Police: Pot, ‘bath salts’ found

Published 9:49 pm Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Suffolk police serving a search warrant in connection with vandalisms last week allegedly found more than two dozen marijuana plants and an illegal substance known as “bath salts.”

Four men, ages 18 to 22, were arrested, according to city spokeswoman Debbie George.

Dickerson

A series of vandalisms in the Pitchkettle Point and Pitchkettle Farms neighborhoods on June 9 and 10 set off the investigation, George said. About 15 victims had graffiti spray-painted on their vehicles, garage doors, front porches and other property.

Golding

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Investigators received information that led them to the home in the 600 block of Lake Kilby Drive, George said. There, while executing the search warrant, investigators allegedly found 25 marijuana plants growing, in addition to various prescription pills.

Rosa

There also allegedly was about one ounce of a substance identified by the occupants of the home as “bath salts,” George said.

Sheaffer

The four arrested were Zachary Steven Sheaffer, 21; Michael Alexander Rosa, 22; Sean Thomas Golding, 18; and Tobias Matthew Jay Dickerson, 20.

The designer drug sometimes known as “bath salts” has grabbed headlines in recent weeks after a gruesome May 26 attack in Florida was linked to the drug. Some in Florida said bath salts were to blame for one man attacking another and chewing off a portion of his face.

Bath salts have no legitimate use for bathing, nor do they contain salt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They often contain a cocktail of stimulants that can lead to agitation, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, delusions, hallucinations, seizures, paranoia and death.

The bath salts can be injected, ingested or snorted. They are also known by a variety of names on the street, including Ivory Wave, Ocean Snow, Charge Plus and White Dove.

Virginia has a statute on the books outlawing the drugs.

George said the four individuals arrested have not been charged with possession of the bath salts, because police are awaiting lab results on the substance.

Evidence of the vandalisms also allegedly was found, she said. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

The full list of charges follows.

Sheaffer — destruction of property (13 counts); entering property of another with intent to damage (13 counts); conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession of marijuana

Rosa — destruction of property (11 counts); entering property of another with intent to damage (11 counts); conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession of marijuana

Golding — destruction of property (11 counts); entering the property of another with intent to damage (11 counts); manufacture marijuana

Dickerson — destruction of property (11 counts); entering the property of another with intent to damage (11 counts)