HERMANUS BREDIJK WAITS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE MARIPOSA COUNTY JAIL AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED AT THE FAIRGROUNDS ON NOV. 18. A Mariposa man got more than he bargained for when he set up a sale of marijuana in Mariposa on Nov. 18. His “buyer” brought along some friends: members of the Merced Mariposa HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Task Force.

What Hermanus Bredijk thought would be a profit of $2,800, turned out to be a stay at the Mariposa County Jail on felony charges of marijuana sales and having a concealed weapon. Bredijk had a loaded .45 caliber handgun in the car at the time of the buy.

According to Mariposa County Undersheriff Doug Binnewies, undercover officers negotiated the deal with Bredijk over the phone and agreed to meet him at the fairgrounds. Other officers waited in the surrounding area, listening to the conversation between retailer and “consumer.” When the officer went to get the payment for the pot, he said a simple code word. The troops advanced.

THE CASH, MARIJUANA AND .45 CALIBER PISTOL CONFISCATED FROM HERMANUS BREDIJK ARE SHOWN ON THE HOOD OF HIS CAR. Bredijk was arrested without incident. Officers followed up the buy with a trip to his residence. There, they found more processed marijuana and equipment for an indoor growing operation.

Binnewies said Brekijk’s spouse could face criminal drug and conspiracy charges, as well.

The undersheriff is concerned about a trend that seems to be growing here. “Mariposa law enforcement has been faced with an increase of marijuana incidents and arrests over the past years,” he said. “Many indicators point to the fact that highgrade marijuana ‘protected’ under California’s Proposition 215 is not being used for medicinal purposes.”

Prop 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, allows for medicinal marijuana to assist seriously ill people. Binnewies said some are taking advantage of legislation intended to help people. “It is sold for profit to the public, clearly outside the scope of the legislation.”

Law enforcement has a tough time with prosecution of such cases because of conflicts between state and federal marijuana laws, while still working to protect the rights of those who are truly protected by the act.

“This arrest was an example of just that,” Binnewies said. “It was a blatant, illegal drug deal - a clear example of how drugs become accesible to our communities and youth.”