NEWS: News.com.au - 16/10/07 'Ben Cousins to face drug charge'

[lil angel15]

Ben Cousins to face drug charge.
October 16, 2007 08:41pm

Ben Cousins arrested after police stop car
AFL star to face drug possession charge
Also charged over refusing drug test

AFL West Coast Eagle star Ben Cousins has been charged with drug possession following a police search of his vehicle in Perth, police said tonight.

Channel 9 has reported that both Cousins and dumped Eagle Daniel Chick had been charged with drug possession.

Cousins is also understood to have been charged with refusing to submit to blood and saliva tests.

In a move that could see Cousins become the first West Australian charged under the new laws, which only came into effect on Friday, the embattled footballer is being questioned by detectives at Curtin House.

PerthNow understands that Cousins was stopped by detectives earlier today because of erratic driving and was taken to the police traffic branch along with Chick and a scantily clad blonde - who were also in the car.

There, Cousins allegedly refused a driver-assessment interview with police. Because of this, police could then not demand urine or blood to test for drugs.

Cousins and Chick were then taken to Curtin House to be interviewed by detectives.

Under the new drug-impaired driving laws, people found to be driving under the influence face fines of $800-$5000, 18 months' jail, and a six-month to permanent licence disqualification.

Police spokesman Graham Clifford said official police comment may not come until later tonight.

Cousins was in his four-wheel drive when two police cars pulled it over in Aberdeen St, Northbridge, about 12.30pm (WST).

Channel 9 reporter Grant Taylor, who witnessed the arrest, said a bare-chested Cousins was handcuffed and taken away by detectives after his vehicle was searched for about 45 minutes.

He was questioned at the East Perth traffic branch, before being transferred to CIB headquarters at Curtin House before 4pm.

Cousins, wearing large sunglasses and displaying his new body tattoo "Such is life'', did not appear to be saying anything when led away.

Taylor said police conducted a thorough search of Cousins and his vehicle on the roadside. A scantily clad blonde woman was also in the car.

"Police have taken Ben Cousins away, handcuffed, shirtless, into custody, taken him away for questioning after stopping him and a young woman in his car on Aberdeen St,'' Taylor said.

Cousins, a former skipper and Brownlow Medal winner with the Eagles, was with Eagles legend Chris Mainwaring hours before he died earlier this month. He was a pall-bearer at last week's funeral.

Eagles communications manager Gary Stocks said he was not aware of the reason for the arrest.

"I haven't been told what he has been arrested in relation to,'' Stocks said.

He said no one from the club had yet spoken to Cousins.

Cousins' father, Bryan, and the footballer's former girlfriend, Samantha Druce, arrived at Curtin House after first checking in at the traffic branch. They were accompanied by Cousins' lawyer, Peter Momber.

news.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Cousins charged with drug possession

Cousins is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. (ABC)

West Coast Eagles midfielder Ben Cousins has been charged by WA Police with drug possession.

It is alleged a quantity of prohibited drugs was found in Cousins' car when he was pulled over in Northbridge early this afternoon.

Police say he was pulled over because of the manner of his driving.

The 29-year-old was taken into custody and interviewed for several hours before being charged.

It is alleged Cousins refused police requests for a sample of his blood for analysis.

He has been charged with possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with a requirement to provide a sample.

He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Cousins has been released on bail.

His Eagles team-mate Daniel Chick is also being questioned by police.

The West Coast Football Club has declined to comment on Cousins' arrest.

ABC Online

 

[-Raver-]

Wow... can't keep himself out of trouble.

I want pictures of the scantily clad blonde woman

 

[hoptis]

Those of us in drug circles know the old maxim about how you can't force someone to quit drugs, they have to want to - for themselves - to have any real chance of getting and staying clean.

So the golden boy flew off to rehab, the hopes of the country behind him, and now he's been caught again. Those hopes it seems, much like drug policy in this country, were based on wishful thinking.

 

[Splatt]

I sisnt think the saliva drug laws were in yet???

 

[lil angel15]

It came in on the 12th October 2007.

West Australian Office of Road Safety

 

[babysnakes]

New to Oz. What's his usual drug(s) of choice?

 

[Haki]

New to Oz. What's his usual drug(s) of choice?

I know he liked his coke a lot (was only a degree of separation away from this chap when he was doing a lot of charlie before he was 'caught' the first time)..

But he's probably on the standard amp's as well.


yas.

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

Police won't identify drug

Reko Rennie | October 17, 2007 - 12:42PM

West Australian police are refusing to identify the drug West Coast Eagles Ben Cousins has been charged with possessing.

Police told The Age that the identity of the drug will come out in court tomorrow, where Cousins is due to appear on charges of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment.

"We're not making any comment on the type of drug ... it will come out in court," a spokesman said.

Meanwhile the AFL executive will be briefed today by senior West Coast officials on what action the club is planning following the latest saga involving the fallen star.

The former skipper was arrested in Perth yesterday and charged with possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment.

Cousins, 29, will appear in court tomorrow.

If found guilty, it is likely that Cousins' celebrated playing career will be over.

Teammate Daniel Chick was arrested in a separate incident yesterday, only to be released without charge

Real Footy

 

[hoptis]

Someone a bit more cynical might think that this was something WA police had intended to do all along, it would concide well with and be good publicity for their new drug driving laws which were passed last Friday. What better way to kick it off by charging WA's most notorious drug user?

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

I thought it was mightily convenient the media just happened to be on hand to catch it all on camera

 

[lil angel15]

Police release charges list
Police sources
October 17, 2007

ON Tuesday 16th October 2007 at about 11.30 am, police stopped and searched two vehicles independently on Newcastle Street in Perth.

The 29-year-old male driver of one of the vehicles has been charged with one count of "Fail to Comply With Requirement to Undergo a Driver Assessment' and one count "Possess Prohibited Drug and will be appearing in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday 18 October, 2007.

The second vehicle driven by a 31-year-old man with a 33-year-old male passenger was searched and the individuals were detained for questioning. Further inquiries were conducted and police subsequently executed two "Misuse of Drugs Act" search warrants on separate premises. Police will allege that quantities of cocaine, cannabis, methylamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were located.

Detectives later charged the 33-year-old male with one count of "Possess Prohibited Drug (cocaine), one count "Possess Prohibited Drug (Cannabis)" and one count of "Possess Smoking Implement". He will appear in the Perth Magistrate’s Court on Monday (22 October 2007).

The 31-year-old man was released without charge; further inquiries are continuing.

Fox Sports

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

Chick's passenger charged over drugs

October 17, 2007 - 3:04PM

A passenger in a car driven by former West Coast Eagles player Daniel Chick has been charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis.

Chick's car was yesterday pulled over in the inner Perth suburb of Northbridge at the same time a separate vehicle driven by fellow player, former Eagles skipper Ben Cousins, was stopped nearby.

Cousins, 29, was last night charged with refusing a blood test and possessing an illegal drug.

Police said in a statement today that questioning of Chick, 31, and his 33-year-old passenger yesterday had led to raids on two homes which uncovered quantities of cocaine, cannabis, methylamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The statement said the passenger was charged with possessing prohibited drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis, and a possessing a smoking implement.

He was granted bail and will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.

Chick was released without charge. Police said today inquiries were continuing.

Cousins, a former West Coast skipper, will appear in court tomorrow.

If found guilty, it is likely his celebrated playing career will be over.

AAP

 

[nabollocks]

He needs to sit at home and think about his actions, maybe knit a sweater with his grandmother and sip earl grey tea. That would keep him out of trouble.

Man... some people just dont learn.

How can you feel sorry for a bloke who has it all, and throws it away like this?

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

'Get a grip' Cousins: PM

Katharine Murphy | October 17, 2007 - 4:06PM
Prime Minister John Howard has urged the AFL to toughen its stance on a "culture" of drug taking among some of its players following the arrest of West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins yesterday.

Asked for his response to the incident in Perth, Mr Howard said he felt sorry for Cousins and hoped he could "get a grip" on his "huge drug problem".

The former skipper was arrested in Perth yesterday and charged with possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment. Cousins, 29, will appear in court tomorrow.

"I think it's a personal tragedy for a very talented young man, but I hope the AFL is as tough as needs be in relation to the culture and attitude within the sport that has brought it about," Mr Howard told reporters in Brisbane.

"I feel sorry for his family, I feel sorry for him, he's such a very talented young man.

"I guess the only other thing I'd say is he's received an enormous amount of publicity as a talent sportsmen who's got a huge drug problem."

He stressed that Cousins' behaviour was not representative of most of Australia's professional sportspeople.

"I would just say to the young of Australia who admire their sportsmen and women, most of them don't have drug problems.

"Most of them don't need drugs. Most of them can be high performers and really wonderful role models without the assistance of drugs.

"But, I hope for Ben's sake, and for the sake of his family, that he gets a grip on himself and can solve the problem.

"But like everyone else, he's got to run the gauntlet of the law."

AAP

 

[time traveler]

Someone a bit more cynical might think that this was something WA police had intended to do all along

Soon they will be tracking football players with satellite imagery, but not yet. Its a safe bet he was coked up, driving like a dick and the police got lucky.

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

^^ Yeah, 'cos the organised crime squad spends most of their time waiting in nightclub districts just waiting to pounce on erratic drivers 8)

 

[hoptis]

West Coast Eagles sack 'ill' Ben Cousins
By Mark Robinson, Peter Jean, Karen Collier and Sam Edmund
October 18, 2007 12:00pm
Article from: The Sunday Times

THE stellar football career of Ben Cousins ended last night when the West Coast Eagles sacked him after his arrest on drug charges.

Cousins, 29, was pulled over by organised crime squad detectives in Perth's nightclub district about 11.30am on Tuesday after his four-wheel drive was seen driving erratically.

His team-mate Daniel Chick was pulled over at a separate location nearby.

Cousins was also charged with failing to provide a blood sample after the pair were taken in for questioning.

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said there was no chance of Cousins playing for the Eagles again.

“This was probably one of the most painful (decisions) in the history of the club,” Nisbett said.

“It's tragic it's got to this stage but it was felt (the decision) had to be made.

“And we're sure we've made the right decision for Ben's health.”

Nisbett said the decision to terminate Cousins' contract was due to an accumulation of incidents, not just the events of Tuesday.

“We felt this was the right decision to assist Ben to focus solely ... on his health,” he said.

Nisbett spoke to Cousins' father and doctor yesterday, but had been unable to contact the player personally.

Nisbett said Eagles coach John Worsfold understood and supported the decision to sack Cousins.

West Coast chairman-elect Mark Barnaba said it had been “a very sad day”.

“Ben has been a great champion for our club,” he said.

“Our reaction is sadness, empathy and concern.

“This is a young man who truly has an illness and needs help.”

Court appearance today

The Eagles board voted to dump Cousins after he was charged with possession of an illegal drug and failing to take a blood test.

The 29-year-old will answer the charges today in Perth Magistrates Court.

By sacking Cousins, West Coast have probably ended the prospect of any further punishment from the AFL.

The Eagles had been threatened with the loss of draft picks or premiership points if any player was found to be involved in drugs again.

Cousins is almost certain to be deregistered by the AFL, ruling out the prospect of him being drafted by any other club.

Nisbett said there was no chance of Cousins playing for the Eagles again.

Concern for Cousins' health

It's believed senior Eagles officials and people close to Cousins have been concerned for the Brownlow Medallist in recent days.

Cousins was hit with a number of conditions when he returned to football from drug rehab late last season.

They are believed to include a zero tolerance clause to testing positive to banned substances, staying away from underworld figures and not falling foul of the law.

Cousins has been living with Chick in his North Beach home, 15km from Perth, since former teammate Chris Mainwaring died of a suspected drug overdose earlier this month.

Cousins was with Mainwaring hours before he died earlier this month.

Mainwaring played a crucial role in getting Cousins into drug rehabilitation for a month in April.

Cousins passed a voluntary drug test in the hours after Mainwaring's death.

PM weighs into debate

Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Howard has weighed into the Cousins scandal, warning that the AFL must take a tough line on drugs.

He also described the latest strife to hit the Eagle as a tragedy for a great athlete.

"But I hope that the AFL is as tough as needs be in relation to the culture and attitude within the sport that brought it about," he said yesterday.

The Government has been critical of the AFL's controversial three-strikes illicit drugs policy – endorsing a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs in all sports.

Mr Howard said he felt sorry for the star footballer's family and he hoped the player was able to get a grip on his problem.

"I think it is a personal tragedy for a very talented young man," Mr Howard said.

Teammate arrested, released

Chick was arrested on Tuesday in a separate incident, although he was later released without charge.

Police subsequently raided two homes and charged a 33-year-old who was a passenger in Chick's car with with possessing cocaine and cannabis.

He is due to appear in court on Monday.

News.com.au

 

[sharaz]

I find it unbelievable that Ben Cousins went into Northbridge in that condition. He may as well have had a sign on him saying "pick me". Surely he can't be that stupid.

 

[Slateroz]

I hope the raids they said that followed were not on people he ratted on to get off.