The Shattuck family in 2013 (Facebook photo)
Shattuck family in 2013 (Facebook photo)
There's little question that Dale and Annette Shattuck of Port Huron Township, busted on marijuana charges while operating a licensed dispensary, got screwed by authorities. Now they're thinking about suing, The Times Herald reports.
Beth LeBlanc writes:
The trouble started when the Shattucks opened a compassion center, DNA Alternative Wellness Clinic, after receiving approvals from Kimball Township in March and May 2014 for the business. The couple also contacted the St. Clair County Drug Task Force, asking the agency to perform an inspection of the facility.
The St. Clair County Drug Task Force raided the Shattucks’ marijuana dispensary, home and grow barn on July 28, 2014. The couple was charged five months later with possession with intent to deliver and manufacture marijuana and maintaining a drug house.
St. Clair County Circuit Judge Daniel Kelly dismissed the charges Feb. 19, stating the Shattucks’ charges constituted entrapment by estoppel — in other words, defendants can’t be prosecuted when they reasonably relied on government approvals for their operation.
In March, the couple finally had seized property returned. They also had other hardships, the paper reports:
In the 19 months since their arrest, the Shattucks had to borrow money while their bank accounts were frozen, they were barred from volunteering at their children’s schools and, Annette Shattuck said, her children will always remember the July 2014 raid on their home.
