Previous Attacks on the neighbors

IF you were to believe this is the first time the lawrence police Department has attacked the yellow house store, you would be mistaken.
about 10 years ago the LPD accused Carrie Neighbors of Selling Dangerous weapons inher store. The only problem was these so called dangerous weapons were novelty items that were also being sold at the fair grounds. So why would the LPD accuse Carrie of selling deadly weapons but allow vendors at the fairgrounds to sell those same items with no consequence ?.......
Here is the story from the LJworld.com


Ric Anderson, Journal-World Writer

August 7, 1994

A Lawrence business owner spoke out recently about what she saw as a double standard in local law enforcement.

On Monday, Carrie Neighbors was convicted of selling martial arts throwing stars at her variety store near downtown Lawrence.

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On Tuesday, A & D Services of Tulsa, Okla., set up its merchandise at the Douglas County Free Fair. Among the items apparently OK'd for sale by sheriff's officers: the same type of throwing stars that landed Neighbors in court.

"I felt like crying," Neighbors said Friday, two days after she saw the stars at the fair. "I think it's a real slap in the face to let them sell these ... after my trial."

Neighbors was charged after a Dec. 3 police raid at her business, the Yellow House Variety Store, 1904 Mass. The raid netted what Douglas County prosecutors described as 56 stars, a knife and a pair of brass knuckles.

Neighbors had a different story. She said the stars were novelty jewelry pendants, the knife was a letter opener and the brass knuckles were a belt buckle.

In an attempt to prove her innocence, she declined offers to plea bargain or enter a diversion agreement.

She was convicted Monday after a one-day trial of selling illegal weapons, a misdemeanor that carries penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine $1,000 to $2,000. Sentencing in her case is scheduled for Sept. 1.

Debbie Roberts, operator of the A & D Services stand, said she had a much different encounter with the law. Before the fair opened, she said, officers examined the merchandise she planned to sell.

She said deputies ordered her to remove boot knives from her display but allowed the stars to stay in.

"They looked them over and left us alone," she said, referring to the stamped metal, six-point stars priced at $5 apiece.

Ms. Neighbors and her husband, Guy, said they were astonished that A & D Services had sold stars all week at the fair.

"We want to let them (law enforcement officials) know that if we're going to be treated differently than other people, then we're willing to open our mouths and let the community know how they're treating us," Guy Neighbors said.

Ms. Neighbors said she was especially hurt because she and her husband have tried to be responsible in the community. They volunteer at area schools and have donated to police and sheriff's organizations.

Douglas County Sheriff Loren Anderson, whose department has jurisdiction at the fair, could not be reached for comment.

But Roberts insisted that she was following officers' orders about which merchandise she could sell.

"If they catch you selling something they told you not to sell, they'll shut you down immediately," she said. "Obviously, I don't want that to happen."

Ms. Neighbors said she felt officers were operating under a double standard by not enforcing the weapons law.

"They (A & D Services) aren't even Lawrence residents, and the most the police will do is ask them to put their stuff away," she said. "But I get tried and convicted."

Since her conviction, Ms. Neighbors has been weighing an appeal. Before she decides anything, she said, she would like to hear whether local residents believe an appeal would be worthwhile.

"I'd just like to know how the public feels about this," she said.