GA. POLICE SEIZE WIDOW'S HOME AFTER SON'S ARREST

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Police have seized the house of an 82-year-old widow
because they say she knew her son dealt drugs there and did nothing to stop
him.

Fannie Gresham's small home was seized Thursday under a state law allowing
authorities to confiscate property linked to the illegal drug trade.

Authorities also arrested her 50-year-old son, Tommie "Top Dollar" Gresham,
on a drug charge after he allegedly dropped several rocks of crack cocaine
and fled.

Police records show 29 incidents of drug activity at the address since 1992
and authorities say drug dealers were caught numerous times fetching drugs
from the house for street sales.

Based on that, and police claims that the elder, widowed Gresham was
helping her son's alleged operation, Superior Court Judge Stephen Boswell
issued a court order in December allowing the seizure. Boswell gave Fannie
Gresham 14 days to move her belongings.

Her attorney, Jim Smith, likened the seizure to the widespread illegal
taking of property and land from blacks that he says tarnishes America's past.

"They have never seized any drugs in this house. This lady is not accused
of a single thing," he said.

Police predicted more such seizures as they crack down on the drug trade in
the city's troubled neighborhoods.

A hearing on the seizure has been scheduled in February.