CA Drug Task Force on Holding Pending Investigation of Commander
It made nationwide news when a commander of a drug task force in California was recently arrested on charges that included drug sales and stealing drugs. In Contra Costa county, where the drug task force was active, all drug investigations under the authority of the arrested former drug task force commander Norman Wielsch have been halted pending a thorough investigation into the matter.
For the past couple of months, federal investigators have been looking into the possibility of corruption in the CA drug task force, and they made arrests last month upon discovering evidence that the commander and a private investigator who worked for him may have committed the alleged crimes. That investigation will continue until it is resolved, but the unfortunate result is that all drug investigations performed by the task force are now called into question. Pending cases have been halted as a result of the arrests.
At least one other investigator on the force was also charged with assisting Wielsch in his drug-stealing and drug-selling activities: Private Investigator Christopher Butler. The two men were recently arraigned on 28 felony drug charges. Among the drugs that they allegedly sold were marijuana, steroids, crystal meth and other drugs. Where did they get the drugs they allegedly sold? They allegedly stole if from drug raids, of course.
There are reports from prosecutors that Wielsch has admitted to stealing and selling the drugs. His bail was set for $1 million but was dropped to $400,000. Wielsch’s attorney says that Wielsch made the choices he did to support the medical costs he incurred when his daughter required a bone marrow transplant.
The hope is that there were no (other) improprieties in the cases involving Wielsch and Butler, and that no further issues develop as a result of their actions.
Drugs and Desperation
The revelation that Wielsch’s daughter required a bone marrow transplant and that the exorbitant debt incurred by Wielsch was the reason for his actions begs the discussion: what is the responsibility of society when someone is driven to crime due to desperation? Does the fault lie with the health care system and the lack of medical resources for those with limited insurance but too high of an income to qualify for state-assisted care? Should the full blame be placed squarely on the shoulders of the men who decided to commit the crime?
In a way, this story is something of a modern day Les Miserables
