Police found over 30 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a beer keg at a teen skateboarding event last Saturday, at 98 S. Glaspie St., but it wasn’t the young attendees who snuck items in, it was allegedly the event’s host.
Oxford resident Thomas Edward Smith, 51, was arrested Saturday afternoon after Oxford police officers found contraband on the premises.
Smith was arraigned in the 52-3 District Court in Rochester before Hon. Lisa Asadoorian on Tuesday for charges of delivering and manufacturing marijuana.
Smith is still being lodged at the Oakland County Jail. His bond is set at 10 percent of $10,000.
Smith was also charged with driving while his license was suspended from a prior incident and has a $250 bond set for that as well.
His preliminary exam conference is set for Tuesday, August 14.
According to the police report, the Oxford Fire Department was called to the event for an injured skateboarder. In doing their regular safety check of the area, a firefighter found the items in an office Smith used and called police to investigate further.
In the office, police found drug paraphernalia, 6.1 grams of marijuana in a bowl and rolling papers in a brief case with Smith’s name on it.
They also found a beer keg, which Smith admitted was ‘for his security force.?
Smith had spent a couple nights before the event in a tent on the property to prevent anyone from stealing any of the new skate ramps.
Police found an additional 34 grams of marijuana and more paraphernalia in a box outside of the tent.
Smith denied having anything to do with the marijuana.
According to the police report, various teenaged witnesses said Smith allegedly asked them if they wanted ‘weed.? When some kids said ‘no,? Smith allegedly told them to ‘bring their bongs to the skatepark.?
The witness also said Smith allegedly offered him beer, to which he declined.
In the report, another teenage witness said he saw Smith allegedly smoking marijuana during the day.
‘This was very uncalled for,? said Oxford Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski. ‘Here we have an individual who was holding an event for teens allegedly displaying this kind of behavior.?
Even though the chief said he had bike units check on the event periodically, he wants to compliment the fire department and his men for doing their jobs well.
Because Oxford Village Council funded the event, Village Manager Joe Young was also extremely upset with the incident.
‘We have terminated any relationship we had with him,? he said.
Smith also worked as a video producer for Oxford’s Channel 19, but resigned on July 21.