Sheriff warn drivers of a "sheriff's narcotic checkpoint"

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- Sheriff Robert Pickell, faced with the prospect of losing his undercover drug team in a matter of months, apparently plans to go out with a bang -- and at least a war of words with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The drug team known as "The Posse" is taking to the streets with a new tactic -- signs that warn drivers of a "sheriff's narcotic checkpoint" ahead -- even though drug checkpoints have been found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Robert Pickell

Undersheriff Chris Swanson would not discuss details of the checkpoint warning, which has been used for just the last few weeks, but said what is being done is within the law.

"This is an aggressive move because we're sick and tired of the heroin overdoses," Swanson said. "It's coming in on the street and it's killing our kids ...

"We're trying to intercept it before it gets on the street and kills our people."

County Commissioner Joe Graves, R-Argentine Twp., said he believes the Sheriff's Office is warning of checkpoints that don't really exist, and making traffic stops if officers notice traffic violations like U-turns when drivers see the warnings.

Graves, who refused to vote for this year's county budget because of funding cuts to the sheriff, said all's fair in trying to stop drug traffic.

"I look at it as another tool," Graves said. "I don't think people's rights are being violated. I don't want to become the next Mexico."

But a spokeswoman for the Michigan branch of the ACLU said Pickell's office has just taken a backdoor approach to violating people's rights.

"Although we don't have all the facts, we are deeply troubled," said ACLU spokeswoman Rana Elmir. "We welcome the public to seek us out and file formal complaints with us. We are looking into this issue."

Elmir said police need legitimate probable cause to search a vehicle for drugs and "turning away" from a reported drug checkpoint "doesn't give police the probable cause," she said.