South Carolina police have made Michael Phelps the target of an investigation after a now infamous photo of him smoking a bong appeared in a British tabloid.  According to a report in today’s Baltimore Sun eight people have been arrested in Richland County, South Carolina who attended the party where Phelps was photographed.  A lawyer who represents one of those arrested said the authorities only asked his client questions about the multiple world record holding Olympian. Michael Phelps has retained the services of an attorney although he has not yet been charged with any crime nor contacted by South Carolina law enforcement.

Possession of marijuana in South Carolina is a misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of 30 day in prison and a $200 fine.  The Sherriff of Richland County, SC, Leon Lott, who is in charge of the investigation has vowed publicly that Phelps would not receive special treatment because of his fame.  However he seems to already have broken that promise.  The notion of anyone being investigated to this extent over allegedly taking a hit off of a bong who wasn’t bringing the authorities a great deal of publicity is simply laughable.  Perhaps Sherriff Lott is operating under the deluded notion that busting Phelps will stop young people from smoking pot. Regardless, it seems clear that Phelps has already suffered a hit to his career much worse than SC police could ever dish out and that the resources of the police department could be better used elsewhere.

You can takepart by contacting W. Barney Giese, the solicitor (basically a District Attorney) for Richland County, SC and asking him to stop this silly investigation of Michael Phelps.

LINKS:

Baltimore Sun: Lawyer: SC Police Targeting Phelps

LA Times: Michael Phelps investigation continues in South Carolina

Baltimore Sun: Viewpoint: More reefer madness in South Carolina