Officials discuss growing Lake County drug problem

Stricter sentences, heightened public awareness and increased community involvement were some of the suggestions given Monday night by local law enforcement officials on how to curb Lake County’s growing drug problem.

Speaking at a Lake County Pachyderm Club meeting, representatives from agencies across the Mission Valley described the current situation as an endless cycle in which a lenient justice system releases drug dealers back into society only to offend again.

“I feel like a recycling service,” Sheriff Don Bell said.

Bell, as well as others at the meeting, said that lackluster prosecution from the county attorney’s office does not serve as a proper deterrent to combat drug problems in the community.

Craig Couture, chief of police with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said he often sees defendants rack up multiple felony offenses before they are incarcerated for a substantial period of time. Through deferred prosecution agreements and short-term commitments to treatment centers, Couture said drug dealers operate indefinitely with little risk of punishment.

“If you knew you’d be out of jail before the officer even filed his police report, are you going to be worried?” Couture said.

Couture said drug use often leads people to commit additional, more serious offenses, such as burglary or even murder. When a high-profile incident occurs, officials said law enforcement is left to field the blowback.

“Who gets blamed? It’s the police,” Polson Police Chief Wade Nash said. “But we caught the guy five times.”

Nash, Bell, and Couture acknowledged the overwhelming number of cases county attorneys handle on a daily basis, however they were unanimous in their support of being more aggressive. They urged the audience to spread awareness of the issue and lend their voices to bring a change in practices.

Although the officials noted that local drug use is similar in proportion to the rest of the country, the numbers are nevertheless substantial.

An undercover deputy with the Mission Valley Drug Task Force speaking at the meetings said that drug dealers consider the area a lucrative market.

“The Mission Valley can snort, smoke or inject 15 pounds a week,” said the deputy, who wished to remain anonymous to conceal his identity.

While methamphetamine remains the most prominent, heroin use continues to rise. The deputy said addiction is driven by the common practice of users selling small amounts of surplus drugs to feed their habit.

“The true devil is that they addict others,” he said. “You have to decide as a community on what level can you stand addiction.”

Elaborating on the call for stricter punishment, the deputy suggested that suspected drug dealers be required to face trial rather than receive a plea agreement from prosecutors.

The officials attributed the recent proliferations of plea deals and deferred sentences to the mentality that treatment is cheaper than incarceration, which they argued was not true.

According to 2015 report from the Montana Department of Corrections, treatment center costs can range from $81 to $131 per day, depending on the program. Incarceration in Montana State Prison, meanwhile, costs about $100 per day, the report states.

Despite possible costs, evidence for the benefits of treatment centers abound.

Couture acknowledged that addicts often fixate on drugs while behind bars, and return to using the moment they are released. Couture said he supports treatment options for offenders, but they should show initiative and a desire to succeed.

In order to raise awareness of the issue, however, members of the audience were urged to contact their elected officials at the local state and national levels.

With an increase in prosecution likely requiring additional facilities to house suspects, Undersheriff Ben Woods said that citizens can particularly help with fundraising efforts by writing letters to their congressional delegation.

Members of the audience were generally receptive to the officials’ message.

Lisa Hochmann thanked the officials for attending the meeting, which she said was full of “eye opening” information.