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'Subway Vigilante' Bernhard Goetz Fighting Drug Charge

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The man once known as "the subway vigilante" appeared in court on drug charges Wednesday.

Bernhard Goetz was arrested in November after allegedly trying to sell $30 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer.

Prosecutors offered Goetz 10 days of community service to resolve the case.

'Subway Vigilante' Bernhard Goetz Fighting Drug Charge

Goetz said he is fighting the charges to make several points, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.

First, he said he believes police are too aggressive in enforcing drug laws; and second, that they'd have a better attitude toward the citizens if they were vegetarians.

"The type of hysterical war on crime that I started 30 years ago is inappropriate now. The war on crime is over," Goetz added.

Back in 1984 police said Goetz used an unlicensed handgun to shoot four teens who tried to rob him.  One of the teens was paralyzed during the incident.

The subway vigilante was acquitted of attempted murder in 1987, however, he was found guilty of weapons possession.

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