Story Archive

Drug Bust III

Alexander Bernstein of New York, N.Y., was pulled over by state troopers in Pennsylvania as he was headed to Florida to visit his sister. Police searched his rented car and found two bundles of a white, powdery substance. Five-plus pounds of cocaine, they said, and two field drug-testing kits confirmed that accusation. No, Bernstein insisted: it was homemade soap for his sister. The troopers arrested him on charges of intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Bernstein was jailed on $500,000 bond. He couldn’t afford that bond, so he sat in jail for 29 days — and lost his job, his apartment, and all of the contents of his apartment. The substance was soap. Bernstein, 33, sued the state police and the maker of the drug kit. The Pennsylvania State Police paid $195,000 to settle the case; the settlement with Safariland Inc., the manufacturer, has not been revealed. (RC/Allentown Morning Call) ...Let’s hope it’s more, and the start of a trend.