Leawood father turns in son for pot

A Leawood father who heard his teen-aged son on the phone last night making what the father thought was a drug deal called police to turn him in, police said.
Leawood police Maj. John Meier gave this account:
"The father said, 'I think he may be having some drugs delivered to the house. I want to give you permission to search my house and if you see a car leaving, stop it.'
"Somebody did deliver the kid some drugs, we stopped the car in the 10200 block (of Ensley Lane), the person that had been at the house. Then we searched the house and found some drugs."
The major added: "I don't want to make it more dramatic than it is."
(Agreed here)
"I'm sure it was a very small amount of marijuana, something like that," he said.
Today's Leawood police activity report  lists two arrests in connection with the incident.
The report also lists a disturbance - A woman business manager who asked police to stand by as she fired an employee.

Comments

[Micah]

Its no wonder that on a daily basis allmost you find stories where kids kill their parents. After reading this story I no longer have to wonder why. It is amazing to me that in todays society that parents are so quick to turn to the government to take control of their kids. Doesn't anyone believe in personal responsibility any more? This guy is a COWARD, end of disscussion. We live in society were we have now elected two addmitted drug users to the highest office in our counrty, we have 11 states that have accepted marijuana as part of society and guess what no one is running around killing people over it dispite the right wing attempt to scare citizens into thinking it will. Its all a lie and the govt. is wasting taxpayers money to "fight the war on drugs" yet study after study shows that it doesnt' stop anything but 1% of drug use, thats outrageous, just leagelize drugs and stop wasteing MY money!

[Brian]

Ridiculous...

Glad that my dad and I were always able to talk about things, and have a great relationship to this day. My daughter and I have had frank discussions regarding lifestyle choices since she was old enough to understand what sex and drugs are.

I neither need, nor want the government to do my job as a parent. I D.A.R.E others to step up and do the same.

Please stop legislating morality...

Might I add, Free the Green?

[Adam Kinzer]

Congratulations should go out to this father. Kids have no fear of the law and this father held his child accountable. I wish more parents would have the character to follow in this parents footsteps.

[Rob Wilson]

What a sad life for this kid when a father turns his back on you. This is the parents fault for not educating their kid about the dangers of drugs. This father failed and instead of owning up and accepting responsibility he puts the blame on his son. This is textbook example of BAD parenting.

[Jim]

The father is not a coward. He embarked upon his own "Profile in Courage" to alert police about his son's illegal drug purchase. Who knows what additional facts might exist regarding ongoing efforts to educate his son or counsel him. I especially endorse his efforts to enable the police to apprehend the "pusher" selling drugs to his son. Problems may exist but there is love seeking a solution.

[Chuck Munson]

What a stupid father? What kind of family member turns their loved one over to the authorities and the state for enjoying a drug that everybody knows should be legalized? At least there are some of us here in Leawood who are for drugs and are against the stupid police.

[Don]

To the simple thinkers of lame "dad is wrong posts". Stop and think for a minute. Do you actually believe this is the only trouble this man has had with his son. I am of the belief that it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Hat's off to the narrow minded ,quick to judge, because it's easier than doing research, following up,or doing bsckground work . What a waste of time. Your quality time consists of stabilizing your obesity by eating massive amounts of fast food and sueing Micky Ds for making you eat Big Macs at gunpoint.

[Anonymous]

Wait until the Dad has his house ceased! He'll think twice about calling the police.

[arthur]

I just wonder if the parent realizes the pitfalls of entering his son in the criminal justice system, especially for a drug offense. Example: Now children can be excluded from the Gov. Student Loan Program for drug offenses. I hope he has money to pay for his childs college. Don't cut your nose off to spite your face SuperDad.

When's the last time a stoned person robbed you. When's the past time a stoned person ran you off the road. When's the last time a stoned person shot you for your money. When's the last time a stoned person did anything at all that affected you -- and don't say they're a burdon on society due to their addiction. It's a medically undesputed fact that pot is less addictive than caffine and not even close to the addictive level of alcohol. There are no dangerous back streets filled with potheads -- people need to wake up and realize this. The worst thing pot will do to your child is screw up his study habbits and make him chubby from eating too much junk food -- so unless you're so inept that you cannot monitor your child's study habbits and make them take school and potentially their own health seriously, what kind of parent are you -- that's like your primary responsibility. Throwing the kid in jail is only going to prove three things: They can't trust you, you can't parent, and you know nothing about pot. Perhaps you should read the government's actual fact sheet on pot -- the only long term affects of weed that have ever been proven are those that are similar to smoking. You might as well throw your kid in jail for lighting up a pack of cigs.

[Beth]

What that father was made to do by his son is called "tough love". This father obviously loves his son very much and only wants whats best for his son and is trying to get him the help that he needs. Too bad more parents don't give their kids the loving help that they need.

[Keystone]

Congrats to the father! Finally, a man with the balls to whip that boy into shape. Glad they took the dealer down too. I can't believe the idiots who a)think that "it's just pot" and b)he's gonna get his. maybe he's already had it.

Yeah, pot should be legal, but it's NOT. So quit blaming your problems on the police, they are only doing their job. I agree that this dad was probably fed up after dealing with other problems. Sometimes you have to show your kid how it is in the real world - you can't shelter them forever.

[BT]

So everyone that is siding with the father here is saying that they'd do the same thing if their child was in this situation? That's ridiculous. If the father had any "balls" at all he would have handled this himself and not turned his own child over to the police. Good luck to that father in having his boy respond to him ever again.

And what does eating fast food and suing McDonald's have to do with any of this?

[Mark]

Did anyone notice that the Police Major seemed disappointed in the father's actions? He even said, "I'm sure it was a very small amount of marijuana," and, "I don't want to make a bigger deal out of it then it is." To me, it seems as if this were just a kid calling his friend to bring him over some pot. Should kids smoke pot? No! But come on! Calling the cops when you find out your son smokes pot?? The father made is seem like there was a HUGE drug deal going down, not high school kids sharing pot with each other. And from the posts, I see many people feel the same way as the dad. Its a shame that this father decided to take this action. These kids will now have problems for life. A different response could've produced an entirely more effective outcome. I just hope that the Leawood police do not go all out in prosecuting these kids. Teach them a lesson without ruining the rest of their lives....

[T]

Congrats to the Father??? .......... What he did is comparable to loosing the Super Bowl. This situation should have been handled "In house". He should have confronted his son, and handled the situation as any good parent would. Yet, instead .......... we are reading about it on the Kansas City Star. Enough said. Congrats to the winner of "Worst father of the year".

[Lea]

Doesn't it matter to anyone that at least he got one dealer off of the streets? Who knows what else that scum could have been peddling? I'm sorry that his son had to go down too for this, but he knew that pot is illegal.

[BT]

This happened in Leawood, and I'm sure this "dealer" isn't a hardened criminal or even "scum" as the previous poster claims. Probably a friend from school of the kid. People, I can't believe you are justifying the Father's actions, he's getting his own child arrested for a small amount of grass. It's not like this kid's hiding bodies under his dad's porch.

[Kansouri]

"Wait until the Dad has his house *ceased*"

"What he did is comparable to *loosing* the Super Bowl"

Idiots can't spell, aren't informed and how the H-E-double hockey pucks does throwing your kid in jail compare to the LOSING the Super Bowl. Get a life if you think a game is anywhere near as important as the life of a child.

It wasn't a "dealer" he got off the streets. It was just one of the kids' friends coming over bringing pot with him. Pathetic display of parenting. At least try to understand kids AND become educated about drugs before you jump to a conclusion about something like that....

[ted]

I've decided that this father is so good and set such a good example that I now want to spread this around. I now want to turn in all of the people who are stealing from hotels, by using a different company name to get a lower price than they should normally get. I'm turning in all of the under the table cash payments for "favors" done. I want to sue every company that puts a "sale" sign on an item that is not actually marked down from it's previous price. I want "tough love" all around.

[Joe]

This happened in LEAWOOD?????????????

OMG, I am shocked and apalled that a Leawood-ite would do such a thing - and drugs in Johnson County? - why I thought they were perfect; that this stuff does not happen "there".

[Jerametrius]

OMFG THATS CRAZY
LIKE OMG!!!!

[Truth]

-To Chuck Munson, who is so sure that the words I'm sharing are no more important than cat $#!% in sewage water, thanks Chuck!
So I'm at school today hundreds of miles from your town and I hear about this and laugh. For all those who see this father as a hero, I assume your brain cells have deteriorated to such a level everything logical has become incomprehensible. The same goes for Super Dad who was scared to confront his son about a substance far weaker than even alcohol itself! This plant happens to be illegal while -17SEVENTEEN17- FDA approved prescription drugs have KILLED JUST OVER 10,000 people. Pot is suspected of killing a horrendous amount of people numbering in at, well it saddens me to say this, but a whole 8 people. This is a record from 1/1/97 to 6/30/05 regarding FDA drugs and weed. That's one death for each year. 1,000,000 million people will die from prescription drugs in the following hundred years unless we come to our senses. I'm not supporting drugs, I am supporting Cannabis use, because chances are slim to none of there being an upcoming 100 cases. Things are looking good, considering six of the mutilated corpses(sense the sarcasm) noted pot as a secondary suspect to the death. For all those incapable of doing the good ole in and out, take Viagra, maybe you could be number 3,000, hurry though, last time I did research for this type of subject it said it was around 2,500 deaths. I really do apologize, I was a lot nicer than I'd like to be, so I must follow up with an evil remark, I hope you go to HEAVEN when you die, I'll look forward to either meeting you there or waiting, however God sees it. Take it how you want it, but that last sentence was typed with utmost sincerity.

-DAVID THOMAS KAVANAGH-
FIND ME, KILL ME
I'LL GO DOWN SMOKING,
a cigarette, don't call the police, daddy nooooooooooooooo!!!!

Just let the father do what he thinks is right for HIS family. Why does everybody have to have a solution to other peoples issues. Mind your own business.

[BR]

Unbelieveable! Typical liberal reaction to paint the son as the victim rather than the criminal that he is! As usual, they never expect to take personal responsibility. Unfortunately for all of you burnouts, pot IS illegal, so save the ridiculous "legalize pot" slogans. Kudos to the dad! If the son has an ounce of sense he will some day thank him.

By the way, congratulations to all the stoners who managed to out the bong down long enough to post. What a hilarious sight that must have been. Probably took two hours and a box of twinkies to get it done. Duuude.

[John]

Wow at all the stupidity that comes out over this story. I would like to say that unless you know what this family has been through you should shut up about bad parenting. As far as when was the last time a "stoned person" ran somebody off the road or robbed somebody I can testify to the fact that it does happen. I have been there and regardless of what you "know", I have driven under the influence of pot and alcohol. They both affect the driving, only in diferent ways. And in many of your gang crimes the use of marijuanna is present. I know that from working with gang members. Does it make you committ the crime, probably not, but it affects you and I am sure there are cases of somebody robbing to buy marijuanna just like crack or cigarettes, ect... You can tell yourself all you want that it is a harmless activity, but I know from first hand experience its not. But, I will not judge this father for what he had to do, because unlike many of you I do not have all the facts. And it is sad that our society has gotten to this stage but it is now a place where you are not allowed to punish children or you are an abuser. The problem here in this story is not the father or the son for that matter but the society. The more we tolerate and accept, the more we give up.

it obvious that alot of posters here smoke pot, so who cares about there opinion here

sorry, I meant it is obvious

By the way, John, great post, most people who argue that pot is a harmless drug are smoking it and have no clue about the true effects, like what it does to the emotional maturing process in young people. As for the first post in response to the story, the reason more kids are killing there parents is they do not know how to deal with reality and therefore take actions that you would only take in a fantasy land. Then they wake up in prison for the rest of there lives. Also, I betcha most of the kids who kill parents are ON DRUGS. I am really glad my father at one point had the courage to get involved and help stop my self destructive behavior. A part of that was calling the police on me years ago. Now with a great life, great stuff and a great wife I am forever gratefull. I could have ended up in my twenties(like I am now) in my parents basement, smoking pot and eating cheetos like most people who's comments I have read here.

[Tracee]

As to your efforts to paint pot as anything remotely like causing people to rob for it, causing women to sell thier bodies for it, and causing folks to kill for it... ...I say, get yourself educated, and quit spouting the same old, TIRED UNFOUNDED rhetoric you hear from your illustrious gov't. I am an enjoyer of the green, and also a 4.0 college student. I am sure I'm not the only one, either. There are many web sites which you can turn to for TRUE information on marijuana, so educate yourselves before... ...well, see above.

I bet this Family was and is having battles within the family itself! Why in the world would ANY PARENT turn thier own KID in for ANYTHING ( besides FELONS ), WHY?

Its stupid, Doesnt this father know that it is HIM that is going to PAY THE FINES, the COURT COST, THE LAWYER FEES? Its not the CHILD!

It would of been alot easier just to ACT LIKE A PARENT and take a PARENT ROLE and CONFRONT YOUR KID, instead this COWARD took the COWARDS ROUTE and asked someone else ( the police ) to PARENT his CHILD!

UN BEEE LEEEEEEEVVEEEE ABLEEEEEE

THIS PARENT SHOULD NEVER be PATTED ON THE BACK, nor PRAISED. He should be given a DOSE OF REALITY PILL, followed by a SHOT of PARENT BOLDNESS, and then, MAYBE he could of been a DAD!

pitttifffulllll!

I tend to believe marijuana should be legalized, but so long as the law is what it is, I think it's better for this young man to be held accountable now rather than later when he is no longer a juvenile.

Its not a question of him being held accountable or not, FOR he should be.

Its a question to WHOM he should be accountable to ( besides himself ), and that my friend would be his FATHER, the one that couldnt PARENT, BE A DAD and most of all be the ONE that his SON should be ACCOUNTABLE TO!

[Deacon John]

Things like this make me so happy that I moved away from Leawood just as soon as I could.

First, I have a Master's Degree in Health Sciences and Policy and the data all points towards the idea that grass is a remarkably beneficial medical tool. Weighed against its few harms (increased risk of lung cancer, emotional dependence on the level of chocolate) there is no reason it should not be legalized, even for recreational use. The only reason grass is "bad" is because folks say it is.

Second, I have a law degree and can see the argument of the "against the law, syhutttup" crowd. This probably applies to "dealer" kid. The dad probably acted appropriately (or at least in the realm of the reasonably) - the dad is anti-illegal drug for his kid, some guy was delivering illegal drugs to his home, and the kid took the risk that he would be caught.

But as for his own seed, having him arrested in his own home, this guy deserves deserves to be tied to one of my "Deacon John's Special Intelligent Designin' Johnson County Crosses" and have his son smash his nuts with a spiked bat so that he can spawn no more offspring to betray. Not counting the obstacles that will be thrown up in his son's life (there are a great number of regulated professions and jobs that will make his son disclose this arrest even as a minor), can you imagine what this poor kid - still in the developing stages of life - is going to think about human nature? Can you imagine him ever trusting anyone again?

With an already perverse Leawood upbringing and a Judas dad, we have done bred ourselves another fine American!

Lets skip forward ten years. Now here is another grown man flipping hamburgers for a living because he couldnt get a good high paying job all because his dad turned him in for a little weed. This dad probably voted for Bush too.

[Tom]

Are people REALLY that stupid to judge this father when they have NO IDEA of the history. I guess THAT's a stupid question in itself because, obviously, they are!

Yes - if the kid was a pretty good kid and this was a first time - I would disagree with what the father did. But MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, he had gone round and round with this kid about using and had done everything he thought he could to stop it. In that case, I would do exactly what he did.

As far as the government taking over a parent's job... I was a D.A.R.E. Officer for 4 years. Within two classes, I could tell which kids had severely dysfunctional families. Not just divorce but severe dysfunction (parent in jail, parents using, abuse). In those cases, SOMEBODY had to take over for the parents. I took many kids under my wings and spent extra time with them to attempt to show them that they had someone to talk to - someone who cared about them and what they could do in life. They weren't getting any direction (or even care) at home.

I was actually present in a meeting with the Principal, Teacher, Counselor, Parent (who I had arrested for DUI (with a 2 year-old in the car), and the child, a 12 year-old buy. The child was not doing ANY homework whatsoever and would only come to school 3 days-a-week on average. I told the parent that I would contact SRS if I didn't see some improvement. The parent (RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHILD) told me, "I wish you would because I don't want him". I took him home with me that night and contacted SRS the following day. SRS told me that they would return the child to his mother and work with her on parenting skills. I was not in a position to take care of him full time so I had no choice but to return him to his mother. And YOU think SOMEONE doesn't need to step in and intervene??? Last I heard, the child (now about 22) was in prison in Texas (I don't know what for).

You have to take a test and get a license to drive a car. You have to get a license to get married. But they let anybody have a child. And some people just have no business doing that!

[Trevor Pippitt]

The information given in this story is limited at best. Without any previous knowledge of the sons or fathers behavior, who can judge either one for the decisions that were made. If there is one fact that can be assumed with near-complete certainty, it is that the son knew that marajuana is illegal and likely understood the consequences of his actions. FYI: if some people chose to belittle others with correcting spelling errors, I believe the saying is H-E-Double-Hockey "Sticks"...not Hockey "pucks."

These brain-less goofs have no clue about the realities of drug use. Drug dependence is a real issue no matter what drug is abused. Marijuania, heroin, cocaine, whatever....These drugs are all bad. Wake up people. Try to imagine a society that is totally drug-free. You can't. It will never happen. And that's unfortunate. But giving up and giving "in" are not the answers. Parents should not give up, if turning the kids in for pot is what they have to do to keep these young people from becoming problems to society than they should do it. Get kids off drugs any way you can!

[BR]

We can't judge this father in a vacuum. We don't know the history of his sons behavior. If I were the father of this boy, and this was my first inkling that he was getting high I wouldn't have called the police on him but I would have come down on him very hard. If the other boy was truly bringing a significant amount of dope, then no question, they both go downtown.

People like Deacon John and the legalize dope crowd wonder why they aren't taken seriously and why it isn't legal. I'm pretty sure the rant about castrating the father isn't going to persuade anyone. Maybe try cutting off your gray ponytail, take off your tie dyed t-shirt and get up before noon and take a shower once in a while.

These people would have you believe that this is just a harmless activity that is no ones business but their own. But they also acknowledge that there are health ramifications to this as well. Does our already overburdened health system need to add who knows how many legal pot smokers to it? Marijuana smoke has many more harmful ingredients than cigarette smoke. To just open the floodgates in this manner would be irresponsible.

As a former heavy user (an ounce a week, sometimes more) I can attest to many negative side effects. Lethargy, lack of motivation, weight gain, depression. While I was using, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and eagerly looked forward to my next bowl. I also would have made many of the lame arguments for its use that I've seen here. However, now that I have several years between me and my last toke, I regret all the time I wasted in that dazed and confused fog. Those of you smoking, you deserve better for yourselves.

By the way I am a proud resident of Johnson County and make no apologies for the success and affluence of many of its residents. Try it, you might like it!

[Brian]

I am a legal professional that smokes. You people comparing pot to crack are morons. I work every day...early, all day, and do my job well. I do not sleep til' noon and wear tye dye. I have a beautiful, healthy daughter, a great wife, and a great house. Pot has never caused me any problems and it never will. It's a perfectly harmless recreational drug that will be legalized in time. It is less addicitve that alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine. Deal with it.

[Parent who care's]

I comment the Father for doing what he thought was right. After all pot can lead to harder drugs. He was only thinking of his son and doing the right thing, and he got the other person too, which means there is one less person saleing drugs. Who know's one day his son could have been 6' under over this crap. He saved his son's life. I would have done the same thing.
After all, had the cops been watching his house at a later date over this, the Father could have lost his home for good. So yes the Father did the right thing, after all the Father is the one who has worked his behind off to get where he is now and isn't and doesn't want anyone to take it away from him or his family. Hell yes he did the right thing.

So for all you Pot Head's out there get a life and get off drugs. You will be better off in the long run. Work and make a life for yourselves, Don't be a druggy all your life and expect other kids to buy from you.

That's whats wrong with this world now Parents dont get into there childrens lives like they should.

Yes I think it is wrong for when a parent slaps there child and the child call the police, kids aren't anything like when we were growning up. We worked and was to tried to get in trouble.

SO GET OFF THE FATHER'S BUTT HE DID THE RIGHT THING.

And it never will, I would like to hear from you in ten years. Sure, there are plenty of affluent people who smoke pot and do other drugs. If financial success is the only thing someone is after, drugs in some cases will not get in the way of that(most nba players) but as far as quality of life and real relationships and true happiness, I just dont buy it. By the way, I wonder how many people against this dad are liberals? I bet 95% so there opinions should only count half.

[BT]

In response to the previous poster, I am not a liberal by any means and I am against the father. I can't believe so many of you are ready to call the cops on their own kids for something so small. Also, your comment about liberal's opinions only counting half, that's real open-minded, why don't you post some more, so I can laugh at you some more.

If even the Leawood Police thought this was an insignificant arrest, then it really must have been. These are the guys that need two backup cars to pull someone over for speeding.

Is there some kind of spell check on here? Needs to be.

[Scott Unruh]

Called the cops?!!! His child orders some pot and a helpless father calls the cops? No wonder the kid needed to be medicated with a worthless excuse of a parent like that. This age of "Bush" is wearing down any sense America has of dignity.

[Ron]

To all the ones who say pot should be legalized. ok maybe it should and maybe not. But please do not say that it is not used in crimes. Like a previous poster said that people do use it before commiting a crime. to the one who lives in jo with a family and is successfull . How successfull are you ??? And how successfull could you be if did not smoke pot. As of this time it is illegal that is all to it. If this is the first run in the dad with the kid then yes it is way too much he should have handled it in house. But if he had problems before maybe he thought that this was the only way to go. but after readying some of these posts maybe the kid read em somewhere else and thought " hey everyone else is getting high why not me."

[puredotte]

This Leawood father has four other teenagers. He stated other interventions did not work with this child. He did what he said was going to do and did the right thing. Maybe it is just shocking for some that a JoCo daddy would actuallylet his child pay them consequences instead of buying him out of problems, sending him to a shrink, and shipping him off to private school. Welcome to reality, Junior. Nolo comprende?

[puredotte]

What this father did is actually very inspiring, to open himself, his home up to scrutiny instead of "throwing money" at a problem. A good example for effective crime prevention. Right is right, wrong is wrong and he has been trying to teach his child the difference between the two, instead of purchasing some "expensive bandaid to get junior a dismissal in drug court, a shrink, and allowing junior son to essentially become a one-brain cell weed head living off his family or somebody else for the rest of his life, carrying 'honk for hemp' signs in his 50's. No, this is effective crime prevention instead of an expensive cover-up. What a great dad, wish we had more like 'em.

[45ACP]

Friday, the 13th? It must be Bush's fault, eh? Or your father's? Or perhaps it's due to the redundancy demonstrated by Leawood LEOs?

LMAO with all you trackin' back bozos. Hey! Y'all avoid black cats and walking beneath ladders today.

[Deacon John]

Oh Dear - Thou hast called out Deacon John:

"People like Deacon John and the legalize dope crowd wonder why they aren't taken seriously and why it isn't legal."

Then bescribed:

"As a former heavy user (an ounce a week, sometimes more) I can attest to many negative side effects. Lethargy, lack of motivation, weight gain, depression. While I was using, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and eagerly looked forward to my next bowl. I also would have made many of the lame arguments for its use that I've seen here."

I have consulted the scriptures my child and they have told me these problems are because thou are a weight-challenged insecure loser in life (any reference to one's own affluence clearly betrays a lack thereof.) Furthermore, we all hazard to guess your problems, ostensibly caused by 'toking', stem from something completely F'd you father did to you as a kid (like get you arrested in your home for a morally ambiguous crime).

The Deacon has spoken.