By Patrick Lynn

Friday morning we reported breaking news of a SWAT team response at two area homes in an early morning drug raid. Since the story was picked up by other news outlets, assumptions have run rampant throughout social media and include accusations of an overkill response by police, wasting taxpayer dollars and other comments like, “Come on– it’s just a little weed.”

There is more than enough criticism going around for the law enforcement agencies doing the job we pay them to do. There is, however, almost no criticism for the alleged criminals in this case. Right now, marijuana is illegal. Whether or not it should be is irrelevant: Portage County is in the midst a sharp increase in serious drug problems, and at least some of the individuals in these two homes are a part of those problems.

What kind of law enforcement agency do we want patrolling the streets in Portage County? One that chooses which laws to enforce based on some irreverent set of rules; or based on how much damage a broken law could cause; or based on public perception that this was surely nothing more than a case of a little weed inside a college frat house?

The fact is, we don’t have all the information, and we likely won’t for some time. Assistant Police Chief Marty Skibba said some information may not be released because it could be useful for finding the “bigger fish” responsible for supplying drugs to local dealers.

Here’s what we know to be factual:

*Assistant Police Chief Marty Skibba said local law enforcement had information drugs were being dealt from two homes on Main and Center streets.

*Right now, marijuana is illegal. Information about whether or not other drugs, weapons or other illegal items were found in either of the homes has not yet been released.

*According to Assistant Police Chief Marty Skibba, SWAT was called in to “secure the residences while investigators could do their jobs.” Skibba said police were concerned there could be weapons on the premises.

*Detective Sgt. Tony Babl said while the drug activity at the two homes were unrelated, initially there was concern by local law enforcement that the homes could be connected.

*Two officers were injured- albeit not seriously- after being assaulted by a 21 year-old male occupant of one of the homes. Sgt. Babl said the occupant, 21 year-old Andrew Anderson, was the aggressor.

*The mugshot photo of 21 year-old Andrew Anderson, the only person arrested as a result of the raid so far, shows red patches on his face, but whether this is the result of a skin condition, previous injuries or the result of injuries sustained as police attempted to subdue him is unknown.

We can argue whether a SWAT response was appropriate, but consider what could have happened without SWAT assistance if a weapons cache had been discovered upon officers’ arrival. Consider the outcome if the Main Street home contained not 10 fraternity members, but 20. Consider if an armed drug supplier had spent the night in one of those homes.

Law enforcement is charged with cleaning up our streets. It’s their job to prepare for the worst. Until we learn factual evidence to the contrary, it appears that’s just what they’ve done.