Pondering Pot
  • Home
  • State News
    • ACT
    • QLD
    • NSW
    • NT
    • SA
    • TAS
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Topics
    • Business
    • CBD
    • Government
    • Hemp
    • International
    • Legalisation
    • Medicinal Cannabis
    • Offences
    • Research
    • Misc
  • Cannabis Companies
No Result
View All Result
Pondering Pot

Police officer fined and fired for returning cannabis to a mentally ill man

4 years ago
in National, South Australia
0
Bag of cannabis buds

Bag of cannabis buds

0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A South Australian police officer has lost his job and will be forced to pay a fine after he returned seized cannabis to a mentally ill man.

25-year-old Tyson Leslie Schrapel was stationed 300km from Adelaide when he accompanied other police officers to a Port Augusta home in February last year. Police were at the home to conduct a firearms audit but located loose cannabis and a bong at the residence. The cannabis was promptly seized, causing the mentally ill occupant to ask for his “medicine” back. 

Schrapel initially refused the man’s request but returned the bong and a portion of the cannabis to the man after he became increasingly upset. 

According to statements made in court, the police had assessed that the mentally ill man was at risk. They had also told the man he would be taken to a hospital under the Mental Health Act. 

Schrapel had given the man back his cannabis as a means of calming the man down so police wouldn’t need to restrain him. His actions were noticed by a detective, who later reported Schrapel’s actions to his supervisor. South Australia police initially suspended Schrapel, but later terminated him from his role entirely. 

He pleaded guilty to one count of supplying or administering cannabis to another person. 

Magistrate Jayne Basher described Schrapel’s actions as “misguided acts of kindness” and an “error of judgement” in court. The court also heard that Scrapel had lived for his work as a police officer, volunteered in community events and fundraised for charity. 

You’ve paid an enormous price for what is, after all, one momentary error of judgement.

Magistrate Basher did not record a conviction against Schrapel for his actions, stating that no punishment was worse than Schrapel losing his career as a police officer. However, Schrapel will be forced to pay a fine of nearly $700.

The 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey shows that 41% of Australians currently support the legalisation of cannabis. 

Tags: Offences
ShareTweet
Karie Cornell

Karie Cornell

Based in Victoria, Karie's passionate about pro-cannabis legislation in Australia. She's joined Pondering Pot to share and bring awareness to the latest cannabis news across Australia.

Related Posts

Channel 7 Sunrise sparking cannabis fears
National

Channel 7’s Sunrise renews cannabis ‘fears’ with old study

August 2, 2021
Australian police officer uniform
South Australia

The plantdemic: COVID-19 causes cannabis street deal seizures to double

July 29, 2021
Cannabis leaves on a yellow backround
National

Australia’s medical cannabis will double to a value of $200 million this year

July 29, 2021
Australian sheep
National

Study finds livestock could eat hemp as a summer diet

July 27, 2021
Hand holding cannabis leaf
National

Australian government says cannabis market is ‘large and relatively stable’

July 29, 2021
Cannabis plants growing together
National

Government study reveals COVID-19’s impact on cannabis use in Australia

July 23, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pondering Pot Icon 2021
Weekly Cannabis News

Get the latest Australian cannabis news straight to your inbox every week.

Enter your email address
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Disclaimer
Pondering Pot does not recommend that anyone uses cannabis for medical or adult use purposes unless consulted by a medical professional. Cannabis is a drug and may have negative side effects. Please consult with your doctor to find out if cannabis is right for you.

  • Home
  • State News
    • ACT
    • QLD
    • NSW
    • NT
    • SA
    • TAS
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Topics
    • Business
    • CBD
    • Government
    • Hemp
    • International
    • Legalisation
    • Medicinal Cannabis
    • Offences
    • Research
    • Misc
  • Cannabis Companies
No Result
View All Result
Weekly Cannabis News

Get the latest Australian cannabis news straight to your inbox every week.

Enter your email address

Thanks, I’m not interested