www.dadeinfo.com

In a recent discussion (on another site) regarding alcohol use, Pastor J David Smith (Trenton Ministry Center) quotes a "local attorney" as declaring over 85% of Dade County's tried criminal cases are directly related to alcohol:

"I am studying this with an open mind. Furthermore, I am not near as legalistic in this as it may come across. I realize that most Christians who debate this issue do not feel that it is proper for them to drink. I am searching for the truth. At this point, I have yet to find any positive that comes from alcohol. There are an infinite list of negatives that are produced by it. One of our deacons is a local attorney in our small town. He told me last night, that over 85% of the criminal cases that are tried in our county are directly related somehow to alcohol. That is an alarming statistic!"

The entire discussion can be found here:

http://www.actscelerate.com/viewtopic.p ... 53&start=0

While Pastor J David Smith does not name him directly, most Dade citizens would be aware this attorney is John Emmett.

If true, this is an alarming fact! Where is Mr Emmett getting this statistic? Is it provided by local law enforcement?

I do understand that these are busy men; most likely John Emmett is having to represent 85% of the 85%, Patrick Cannon having to arrest 100% of the 100%, and Pastor J David Smith most likely preparing for another media tour to promote his 12th or 21st book (depending on the situation that is most beneficial to him at the moment); however, if true, why are Attorney Emmett, Pastor Smith, and Sheriff Cannon not providing this statistic in more public forums (such as the recent city meeting where beer and wine sales in local restaurants was discussed)? Does the alarm not need to be sounded?

Forget legalizing beer and wine sales in local restaurants (for revenue purposes), if true, why are we, as a county, not seeking to even repeal beer and wine sales laws in local grocery stores? Apparently, doing so would cause us to be (almost) crime free!

I would dare to say that the crime rate is more like 95% here because I know alot of beer cans and bottles are being thrown out as garbage and we now know that is the biggest issue that this county is facing in the crime dept. And for the other "Big Capers" of animal abuse, I am sure that all involved is pretty drunk when committing this crime. Although I do believe that the dognappers aren't drinking but only at certain functions at their store or at certain parties that a commissioner might throw from time to time....lol...lol..lol....

There you go again RWR, basing your opinion(s) solely on the facts of what actually goes on around Dade...

Well, I for one am not trying to "Cover" for those who can "Cover" for me... That's the issue here in Dade County. They try to "Cover" for each other because they all have something they try to keep "Covered Up"! It goes back to my "Circle theory"... But it's such a small little circle that controls the bigger circle is what I get tired of.... I have just had the "not so much pleasure" of being in both...

But then again, I try not to be fooled as much as the "outer circle"!

I think that would still happen[85%] even if we were a dry county,most thst have acahol problems don't drink in public,they won't spend thier money on inflated drinks they want the most bang for thier buck.They will continue to drink at home and fight thier family and nabiors ,drive back to the store and buy more beer resulting in the same # of DUI and DUI related accidents

Again, I'm asking, where did these statitistics come from? If the most recent indictment report from the Grand Jury is dominated by meth cases, how is it possible that 85% of "all" criminal cases in Dade County are alcohol related? Further, if this 85% is accurate, why is John Emmett and Sheriff Cannon not warning the public during the Trenton City debate on allowing beer and wine sales in city restaurants? Why is Pastor J David Smith not attending the city meetings to share what he claims to be accurate reporting on Dade crime and the impact alcohol has on our county? Maybe Pastor J David Smith can write another book to go with the 400+ (yes, that's an accurate quote of numbers) songs and books he already has stated he has authored: The Power of Alcohol?

If 85% is a correct number, why are these community leaders (and others) not leading a movement to repeal local laws that allow beer and wine sales in local grocery stores? Has anyone contacted Ted Rumley for his opinion/stand on this matter?

I will tend to agree with the 85% number. What is shocking is by per capita our numbers look like a higher percentage than Cattoosa or Walker. http://gbi.georgia.gov/00/channel_modif ... 06,00.html
You can ask any police officer, deputy, or DA and they will tell you every theft can be traced back to drugs. I would then also say that those that use drugs probably use alcohol as well. Is alcohol the cause I won't go that far. I would say this is from the drugs that have caused the problem not the alcohol. A very interesting program I watched on drugs a while back from Stossel is here:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/162589/stosse ... un-17-2010
This programs offers the questions is it the drugs that cause the problem or the policies?

You may agree with the 85% but the problem is that it would be what it is, don't matter if Dade County was all DRY! I have said TOO MANY times that Dade County CAN-NOT and WILL-NOT stop the use of alcohol by not selling it in this county. You must be stupid if you think you can... You can't stop it by arresting them either... That's why you have someone who is six or seven time DUI! That in itself drives up the numbers. Come on people have a little common sense.
Maybe they will just vote on it tommorow night and get it over with... I know they like the crowds but they are only there to Voice their Belief and not there for anything else....

If that is where /how the 85% is arrived at, then that is just plain stupidity! Using that argument, it is very safe to assume that the majority of the crimes committed in our county were by perpetrators who had eaten in the past few hours/minutes...is 100% of our county's crimes also (then) food related? Perhaps all the dognappers in Dade County stopped off for a burger and fries on the square.....