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Agents seized pot-growing equipment, guns in bust

Monday, October 13, 2008 5:43 PM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force agents said they recovered an extensive amount of marijuana-growing equipment, packaging materials, processed marijuana and firearms after the arrests of Sarbjit Singh Clar, 53, and his son, Kuldeep Singh Clar, 29.

Sarbjit Singh Clar remained in custody Sunday in lieu of $100,000 bail on suspicion of three counts of delivering marijuana, one count of conspiracy to deliver marijuana and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. His son is out on $25,000 bail on suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

The men were arrested Thursday in Kalama and Castle Rock, respectively. Their arrests were reported in Friday’s Daily News.

Agents served warrants at Sarbjit’s businesses, Good Day Market and Kash Motor Sports at 334 N. First Ave., Kalama, at Sarbjit’s residence at 440 Taylor Road, Kalama, and at Kuldeep’s business, One Way Market and Gifts at 38 Cowlitz St. West, Castle Rock and Kuldeep’s apartment above the store, according to a news release from the task force.

The news release said that during the yearlong investigation into a drug distribution conspiracy, agents purchased pound quantities of marijuana on multiple occasions.

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mom of four wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:11 AM:

" I'm sorry is having a firearm against the law? Didn't say if they were felons or anything. The drug part yeah they are just plain wrong. "

CONCERENED wrote on Oct 13, 2008 5:03 AM:

" GOOD JOB!!! IM BEHIND YA 100%!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB AND GET THE SCUM OFF THE STRRETS!! "

kalamafam wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:15 AM:

" Bring on the comments about how great these guys are and how they are pillars of the community. "

Mrs. Pellwerds wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Guns? I thought the peaceful minded pro-marijuana crowd was opposed to such things? I'm sure there is no danger though, right? I mean wouldn't you rather have some one walking around your neighborhood with a gun while stoned off weed than drunk? Oops. I guess even marijuana dealers are like every other drug dealer. "

TK wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:16 AM:

" Gives a whole new vibe to the slogan, "buy local." "

LJD wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:30 AM:

" Alcohol good. Weed bad! "

banana hammock wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:39 AM:

" They should put this much effort into busting meth dealers. "

Gondolapete wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:09 AM:

" Wait a minute here..we were assured that the task force had made a mistake!!!!! This cannot be true!!!! "

RAW wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:23 AM:

" Here's something that has always amazed me. We read where someone was busted for drugs after a year long investagation. Now we all know the police aren't the only ones buying drugs, so it goes without saying a lot of drugs are getting to the streets while the police hold their investagation. I understand they are trying to get as many people involved as they can but wouldn't it make more sense to bust the ones you have information on. It's kind of like the bird in the bush and the bird in the hand. Why does it take a year to get TWO drug dealers off the street. "Pound quantities on mulitiple occasions", sounds to me like they had them when they sold the first pound. Question here is how many more people were buying pounds at the same time. I just think we would have more drugs off the streets if we bust this bunch one at a time just like you trap rats. "

barney123 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:56 AM:

" Well, well, well....looks like those of you who were defending these guys for just selling "a little pot" may have been mistaken. "Extensive amount of marijuana-growing equipment, packaging materials, processed marijuana and firearms" sounds like more than "just a little pot" to me!! I for one am proud of the police for getting another scum-bag drug dealer off our streets!!!! Keep up the good work, guys and gals!!! "

kalamamom77 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:48 AM:

" Well I guess I will be the 1st to admitt that this surprises me. I will also be the 1st to admitt that I was wrong. I apologize if I offended anyone. I do still stand behind the fact that I will continue to shop at there store tho, I dont feel I am supporting the problem cuz I am not there for the bad stuff I still like the family and they have always been good people to me, but I cant agree with the whole picture now that it has came out, I am really saddend by this. They are in the wrong by doing what they have done, pot is a drug and is illegal to me it isnt that big of a deal when you compare it to the other problems our county has, but firearms are a real problem, personal use is one thing, but when you are having any drug and something as dangerous as guns that is a real concern. I am disappointed. I again apologize for anything I have said I was wrong, you were right. Sorry I am very very very disappointed!!! I feel very stupid and I know I should no one has to tell me!!! "

kalamamom77 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:34 PM:

" I dont think it was implied that a mistake was made, I believe it was that people thought it wasnt a big deal compaired to our countys other problems. One question tho dont good people make bad decisions too. I am not condoning this by no means but I am saying they have been caught and will be put on trial, maybe this will be the end of it for them. I believe in the good in people, maybe that is my bad. I know I have made my share of bad decisions in my life, but I learned from it. Hopefully they will too. I cant see where they intended harm to be done to anyone, it is supply and demand. Around this town they are not the only ones who needed to be investagated if we are going to make pot a big deal here. We are in between 2 huge cities and there is less competition in smaller towns than the large ones, it scares me to think of what will move in to our town now. Yes they broke the law but what is the person or people going to be like that move in to replace this. The demand is still there someone will be there to supply it, we didnt have to worry if they were going to kill us, beat us or break into our homes or anything, so what now, do we just wait and see? "

Atrucker wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:49 PM:

" Now that firearms are thrown in the mix no one wants to protect them any longer.
agents purchased pound quantities of marijuana on multiple occasions.
This I have a problem with , and the amount of time it covered . I do not get it "

Gondolapete wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:04 PM:

" kalamamom...where there is smoke...99.9% of the time there is fire. What actually surprises me is how someone could be so stupid that they deal drugs in a high profile way???? If anything they should be arrested for stupidity.. "

TheGenius wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:17 PM:

" Well, obviously, I was wrong in my previous comments. I would like to personally commend the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force for this overwhelming and monumental victory in the War on Drugs. I look foward to the ceremony in front of the store under a banner saying "Mission Accomplished." In all seriousness, kudos to law enforcement in making the arrest. Too bad your good work doesn't put a dent in the war against drugs. "

country gal wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:32 PM:

" There have been many past comments about marijuana. I'm not a 'weed' smoker but I still believe in legalizing marijuana. It's an organic plant like grapes, etc. What I do praise the law officers for are when they go after the drug users and drug dealers selling cocaine, meths, and any harmful chemicals that users inject into their bodies. "

sentinel wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:32 PM:

" To Raw: Don't you suppose there might be more than one investigation into more than one trafficking group going on? I think if you look back over the past year you will see several other Task Force arrests involving different groups, including for meth. "

GG wrote on Oct 13, 2008 1:35 PM:

" The reason it takes so long is because the Prosecuting Attorney has to make sure that all thier t's are crossed and i's are dotted because some sleezy attorney will do whatever it takes to get these drug dealers off, either with a small fine or probation and then they are back on the street. It is a vicious circle, almost like a sick game. There is more than likely more to this than just pot and guns. That is WHY it takes so long. They are searching to make sure that IF there is more involved they don't miss it. I am glad that they got busted. I hope they go away for a long time. No matter how "nice" they are. Ever wonder WHY they are so nice? They want something from you. Your money and your business. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 13, 2008 2:33 PM:

" I find issues with law enforcement buying that type of quantity repeatedly. This shows demand, to which a supplier will always find a way to supply. This is also entrapment if the officers approached the seller and wanted to buy more than the seller normally sells to a single person. It just amazes me as to why people will do this in the first place. On the side of legalization, if it were legal, taxes would have been paid and there would have been no need to worry about whether the pot was sold to law enforcement nor the quantity. But OH well... stupid people do stupid things and laws are all around us in order to protect us from ourselves. "

chinook66 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 3:11 PM:

" Seems weird Kuldeep is working the Kalama store behind the counter.....also where is the liquor aND gambling board, seems their license should be pulled?????? "

sparky wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:01 PM:

" Rosey Glasses still comes to their defense! 'Oh, they were trapped; the injustice of it all; those poor 'nice' people; they were just helping keep the economy strong with supply and demand you know'. Rosey GlassPipes should be your new name. "

El Fuego wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:34 PM:

" Kalamamom, no one else has, but I certainly accept your apology as I was the first to say they (store owners) were wrong and I won't do business there anymore. One MAJOR issue that troubles me deeply is that these people can come here from another country, welcomed with open arms, and then turn around and slap us in the face by dealing drugs. They will get nothing more than a pat on the wrist and know it. If you or I were doing the same thing in their country, it would be prison for a very long time. I think their punishment here in America should be the same as they would receive in their own country, and then kicked out of the USA. In a small way, I feel what they are doing is an act of terrorism as they are corrupting our young in a quiet way which ultimately affects our country. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 13, 2008 4:37 PM:

" You know sparky, I was not defending them. I was making a simple statement of what their attorney is going to say. I did not say they WERE trapped, I said it could be said they were. and that by officers engaged in this type of work could be considered by those supplying them to be a damand. I was not saying that their dealing was right. I do not condone the sales of illegal products. You could call it "playing the devils advocate". I have never been in either of these stores, nor do I purchase things as such. I was only making a comment and do not feel you needed to attack me as such that you did. I never once said "those poor nice people". "

sparky wrote on Oct 13, 2008 5:40 PM:

" RoseyGlasses, re-read your post, it starts with "I find issues". No where in your post did you say you were playing the devil's advocate or stating a case for some defense attorney. Whether intentional or not, your post sounds like you are on the side of the store owner and not the police worked hard to build a case against this guy. "

sparky wrote on Oct 13, 2008 5:55 PM:

" Kalamamom, El Fuego is right, your apology should be accepted by all. It's a sad situation around and it seems like you really wanted to believe in them. That is admirable. No need to hang your head for that. "

greenbean wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:01 PM:

" Other than the drugs and weapons, these two sound like real nice people. "

loudly wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:39 PM:

" I have no way of knowing this to be true, but I would guess that by taking their time with the investigation the police were able to back track where the pot was coming from in the first place and also so as not to draw too much attention to themselves when they made those large purchases. I would guess that it takes time to get these types of people to trust you. I don't think you just walk in and say "hey can I buy a pound of pot from ya!". Sounds like these two folks are just the tip of the iceberg. And to the person lamenting that the police aren't doing this type of investigation with Meth. I would just point to the huge meth bust that was featured a few months ago. Also, I've been reading the clark county papers and they too have been making huge meth busts lately. But I would guess those busts are only small dents in the overall drug problem here. Of course making border crossings harder would help but according to another article feature on TDN, too many bleaters are opposed to stricter immigration rules. So we continue the vicious circle. "

In kalama from cali wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:44 AM:

" I dont understand how the courts set bail. Tthe couple in todays paper were caught w/pot growing in their home and illegal percriptions and bail was set at 25,000 and 10,000. Yet the father in this case his bail is 100,000. And then theirs the couple that kidnapped a young child to buy meth and their bail was set at 10,000. I beleive this County is RACIEST and UNFAIR........................................ "

puffy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:19 PM:

" why would your united states goverment apply win and hold a patent for marijuana if it was as useless as you who argue for proabition claim!its all about money and you who argue for proabition look like your making the money from that side of the coin!

US Patent 6630507 - Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants

Abstract
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to
NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids
useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation
associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular
application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological
damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia. Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such
as cannabidoil, are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid
toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses
useful in the method of the present invention. A particular disclosed
class of cannabinoids useful as neuroprotective antioxidants is formula
(I) wherein the R group is independently selected from the group
consisting of H, CH3, and COCH3.

=PuffY= "

puffy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:28 PM:

" why would your united states goverment apply win and hold a patent for marijuana if it was as useless as you who argue for prohibition claim!its all about money and you who argue for prohibition look like your making the money from that side of the coin!

US Patent 6630507 - Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants

Abstract
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to
NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids
useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation
associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular
application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological
damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia. Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such
as cannabidoil, are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid
toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses
useful in the method of the present invention. A particular disclosed
class of cannabinoids useful as neuroprotective antioxidants is formula
(I) wherein the R group is independently selected from the group
consisting of H, CH3, and COCH3.

=PuffY= "

loudly wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:59 PM:

" to in Kalama from Cali. Yeah everything is about race. Of course in the case of the kidnap, I would bet the people arrested don't have a dime to their name so how could they make bail? The store owners, on the other hand, have lots o dough so making them pay more will ensure that they show up for court. Why not sit back and think for a second before playing the race card? To Puffy= but does the patent say anything about selling the weed from your store and keeping firearms on hand to protect your stash? "

In kalama from cali wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:57 PM:

" "Loudly"Being a store owner has nothing to do w/it. Store owners of small markets don't make lots of dough. Bail suppost to be set according to crime. Where's the facts that everyones saying they were dealing out of the store. In that case the store would be shut down. We'll see at the outcome of the trial. I believe the newspaper and police have made a big mistake........As they have released him on his own recog... "

D&B wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:17 PM:

" Come on Since when is it illegal to own a couple of firearms as long as you dont have a Felony record? A good majority of people in this county have firearms dont let that change your whole opinion on these people WOW! "

puffy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:46 PM:

" i say we who are true americans will revolt from our own hypocrisy 100% everytime! "

hot momma wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:46 PM:

" Good job to our local law inforcement. Another scum bag off the streets. I hope they take the family store as payment for the crime they have commited. And I hope everyone stops shopping there until then. We should not support that sort of person in our community. "

toledoone wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:54 PM:

" So puffy...whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
I think you too much of your medicine.
D&B, I do think it is illegal to possess guns during the commission of a crime. This I think, will be the problem. And yes, just in case you were not aware, selling marjauna by the pound is illegal pretty much everywhere. "

akasha merkabah wrote on Oct 18, 2008 1:05 AM:

" STILL nobody seems to get it or feels a need to reply to my comments. Where was the Kalama Police Dept. and their drug sniffing dog at for the year this was being investigated?At the Rebel Truck Stop? Handing out tickets out of the city limits? We need our law officials to stay in the city limits and let the deputy sheriffs take care of the out of city activity.Hot mamma....Good job local law inforcement????? I don't think they had anything to do with it! And as far as taking the family business as payment for the crime....not too long ago a man plead guilty to having 2 houses full of growing MJ and pounds of ready smokeable MJ and stealing PUD power.....he got 3 months. This is alot smaller scale of crime and you're wanting to take the store. SHAME ON YOU! El Fuego....how do you know they are corrupting our youth? Maybe it had nothing to do with youths! As for your comment about it being an act of terrorism....with a name like "El Fuego" maybe YOU should be sent HOME!!! You are all so quick to point out someone elses bad BUT it don't make you look any better. WHO ARE ALL OF YOU TO JUDGE???? I'll keep supporting that store because it's a place where I can go and not hear them talking badly about anyone.They just didn't fit into the Kalama gossiping backstabbing ways and I for one won't condemn them for it. "

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