Tony Rizzo owns a store called Radical Riz's Hemp Supplies, located in Peterborough, Ontario. The store has been raided twice since it opened at the beginning of August, and Tony Rizzo was in jail from September 30 to November 15. Over 45 days in jail for selling pipes and returning to his own store, and all this without a trial!
Ontario Provincial Police first raided Radical Riz's on August 7. They seized pipes, hemp seed treats, herbal tea detoxifiers, hemp wallets, and anything else they could get their hands on. 25 year old owner Tony Rizzo was charged with possession of illicit drug paraphernalia banned under section 462.2 of the Criminal Code, possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) and possession of one gram of marijuana.
Since Tiny Rizzo didn't shut down his store, the Ontario Police raided him again on August 30 and cleared out his store once again. Rizzo was charged with 462.2 again, possession of yet another gram of marijuana, and two breaches of his recognizance. Between the two raids, police seized about $10,000 in merchandise from Tony Rizzo's fledgling store.
After the second arrest, Rizzo was released from jail under very strict bail conditions, which included not possessing or offering for sale any paraphernalia or rolling papers, not possessing, purchasisn or using any non-medically prescribed drugs.
Tony was also ordered to stay away from Cory Cowling and not contact him, indirectly or directly. Cory Cowling is the manager of Radical Riz's Hemp Supplies and also Tony Rizzo's friend. Cory has not been charged with any offence. Tony was also ordered to stay away from Radical Riz's, his own store! The bail conditions clearly made it impossible for Tony to run his business, as they prohibited him from being in his own store and talking to his friend and store manager, who had not been charged with any offence.
Tony defied the undreasonable bail conditions, and returned to his store briefly on September 30. He was spotted by police who had the lolcation under surveillance, and they quickly arrested him. He was charged with violation of his bail requirements and locked up for 45 days, until November 15.
It's worth noting that, although section 462.2 is commonly used to intimidate and harass store owners and to drive them out of business, no-one has ever been found guilty of violating section 462.2 in Canada. It's likely that the court would deem the law to be obviously unconstitutional, and so it serves the prohibitionary system better if people are run out of business before they go to trial.
For more information about all of this stuff, call Radical Riz's at 705-749-6109. Rizzo's lawyer Glen Jennings can be reached (416) 366-1758.