York police make major drug bust — 60 alleged criminals arrested 

Henry Thomas, the actor famous for playing Elliott in E.T., was arrested Monday for driving under the influence. Tualatin PD, Thomas’s agency, told TMZ that they had to pick him up and another motorist called 9-11 on him around 8:30 p.m. to report that someone had stopped in the middle of an intersection.

According to TMZ, Henry was found drunk and asleep in the middle of the road and that officers had to wake him up. His car didn’t smell like alcohol, police say, but he was given a DUI after being taken to the Washington County Jail nonetheless for other signs of intoxication.

In his mugshot, it certainly appears that Thomas is in some way intoxicated, with red, blurry eyes, and a perplexed, faded expression.

He was held for a time while he sobered up before being released with a misdemeanour charge, reports City News.

Arkansas siblings Elizabeth Catlett, 29, and Don Furr, 33, face drug-related charges following the former’s accusation that her brother fed her a “meth sandwich.”

The two were arrested in Hot Springs, Arkansas after police witnessed Catlett, who was driving, “moving about the vehicle in a quick, nervous manner.” Another officer was called and the two were questioned.

Initially, Catlett claimed that they had no weapons or drugs in the car, but she quickly changed her tune.

“In Catlett’s front pocket, police found a small plastic-wrapped bag that had small scraps of paper, a straw cut into a smaller length, and several plastic bags,” reports ABC 7 News. At this point, police found a bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine and Catlett was arrested.

When questioned about the possibility of more dugs in the car, her brother told police “if there is anything in the car it would be in the console and it would be ice.” Furr was also arrested.

Furr further admitted that he and his sister had both used meth earlier in the day, prompting Catlett to claim that Furr had fed her a “meth sandwich.” Furr did not deny this claim, and Catlett also claimed that he sometimes put methamphetamine into her drinks.

According to ABC 7 News, “Catlett faces additional charges of DWI and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Her bond was set at $14,500 while Furr’s was set at $13,500.”

They will both make their first court appearance on November 4.

The Colombian navy made an unorthodox rescue on Sunday following a shipwreck off the country’s coast.

Thirty miles off of the Colombian Pacific coast, three suspected drug traffickers used bales of cocaine to stay afloat amongst the flotsam of the ship.

Navy officers reportedly threw the traffickers life belts from the coastguard ship to make the rescue.

According to CNN, nearly 3,000 pounds of cocaine hydrochloride were recovered.

The men have now been turned over to federal prosecutors, where they are expected to face charges of drug manufacturing, trafficking, and possession.

Columbia has long been synonymous with cocaine, both in popular culture and in reality. According to a September 2018 United Nations report, production of cocaine in the country has reached “a record high,” with projections estimating that it will only get worse before it gets any better.

With that, Columbia holds the throne as the number one cocaine producer in the world, with nearby markets being home to the majority of cocaine users. One recent survey found that as many as 1 in 20 American adults between the ages of 18 to 25 used the drug in 2015, with particularly high popularity along the Northeastern corridor. 

According to the 2017 annual report from the American State Department, “there are troubling early signs that cocaine use and availability is on the rise in the United States for the first time in nearly a decade,” with the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving cocaine in 2015 being the highest since 2006, and the second-highest since 1999, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported last year.

Canadians don’t shy away from cocaine use, either. Researchers at the Global Drug Survey. Out of the 36 countries surveyed, Canada came in second place for most usage in a year, trailing only Scotland. The median number for Canadians was 10, meaning that Canadians used cocaine just under once a month, on average.

An investigation into allegations against the University of British Colombia’s (UBC) fraternities has been launched following a professor’s tweet claiming that multiple students came to her with allegations of being drugged at a party.

However, Campus Security and University RCMP have yet to receive any formal reports of the alleged drugging, reports Global News.

“UBC RCMP confirmed it was investigating, but said it had no further comment at this point,” reports Global News. “Vancouver police confirmed no report of this nature had been received.”

Providence Healthcare also reports that no drugging cases have come before St. Paul’s hospital during the alleged time of the fraternity’s alleged drugging. Vancouver Coastal Health is also investigating their emergency department records.

“The information shared online is being taken very seriously and will be fully investigated,” UBC vice-president of students Ainsley Carry said in a statement.

“Our first priority at this stage is to encourage anyone who has experienced or has information about the criminal behaviours described to call the UBC RCMP at 604-224-1322, or 911, to report the incident.”

Besides the professor’s tweet, there is currently no evidence that druggings took place. Due to the severity of such crimes, however, it is still incredibly important for police to investigate and they are currently doing so.

“We want to ensure the safety and well-being of the students affected, which is why the resources at the AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre are available to any student who wishes to access it,” said AMS president Chris Hakim.