Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 30, 1991 TAG: 9103300278
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK/ STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Charles Edward Gowen, 38, was charged Thursday night with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after police raided his home in the 1500 block of Franklin Road Southwest.
Police said Gowen has ties with Balloons Over Roanoke, a business that specializes in balloon arrangements, candy baskets and gifts. Gowen's position with the business was not clear from the report.
Authorities said they seized two pounds of marijuana from Gowen's home.
A search warrant filed in Roanoke Circuit Court stated that marijuana had been sold in Gowen's home within 72 hours of when the warrant was served, about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. The warrant stated that at the time of the drug deal, there was additional marijuana in the home for sale.
In a letter to the editor published last year in the Roanoke Times & World-News, Gowen wrote that marijuana laws were old and unjust, and that the drug was far safer than alcohol.
"While the sellers of booze get rewarded with paychecks, the sellers of pot get prison," he wrote.
In other Roanoke police reports Friday:
A 28-year-old man told police he was struck with a skateboard after being confronted by four youths riding skateboards downtown. Clinton C. Quesenberry of Dale Avenue Southeast said he was attacked in the 300 block of Church Avenue about midnight. He was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital for cuts to his throat and left side. Charges were pending against a 17-year-old, police said.
A 19-year-old man was cut and bruised Thursday when he was dragged by a car more than 100 feet on Eighth Street Northwest. Robert Palmer Fletcher of Hunt Avenue told police someone in the car asked for directions, then grabbed his shirt as the car accelerated. He was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
by CNB