‘Bath salts’ arrests made
RED BAY – Swift action by the Red Bay Police Department led to some of the first arrests in the state for the newly outlawed drug called “bath salts.”
David Clark Agar, 23, with a listed address in Robertsdale, and Willie Lee Sims, Jr., 27, with a listed address in Crestview, Fla., were both arrested Saturday evening and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime and first-degree possession of marijuana.
According to Red Bay Police Chief Janna Jackson, the two suspects were overheard at a local business discussing a possible drug deal on Friday afternoon.
Once authorities were called and the suspects’ license plate had been run through the system, officers discovered Agar had an outstanding warrant out of Baldwin County for first-degree possession of marijuana.
However, Jackson said before officers were able to arrest Agar on the outstanding felony warrant, the men left the business and could not be located.
Jackson said the department received a break in the case Saturday evening when the men showed back up at the same business.
Business owners immediately contacted the RBPD who, with the help of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the scene and arrested Agar on the felony warrant.
During the arrest, officers discovered large quantities of “spice,” which is a synthetic marijuana that is illegal in Alabama.
After the RBPD K-9 unit was called in to locate additional drugs, Agar gave consent for officers to search his vehicle where officers discovered large quantities of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV or “bath salts”) and drug paraphernalia.
Sims was arrested after the drugs and paraphernalia were discovered in the vehicle.
“During the investigation, we discovered Agar manages head shops that sell the synthetic marijuana and other items like paraphernalia,” Jackson said, “and we have reason to believe he was trying to sell the bath salts to people here in the area and get a market going.”
Jackson said officers discovered receipts in the vehicle showing bath salt purchases from China and drug paraphernalia purchases from Hong Kong.
“We’ve determined Agar is the person who has been bringing the bath salts into Red Bay and we believe the bath salts he has brought into the area are related to an overdose we had about a month ago,” Jackson said.
The overdose Jackson was speaking of occurred on Jan. 30 when officers with the RBPD were called in to assist with a patient at the Red Bay Hospital who was thought to be having seizures.
The man had become combative on the ambulance ride to the hospital and had ripped out two of his IVs before he finally told officials about the drug he had injected just before he started convulsing, slurring his words and having hallucinations.
“It was one of the strangest overdoses I have seen,” Jackson said.
The dangerous side effects of “bath salts,” which is also sold under names like Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Bliss and Vanilla Sky, prompted members of the state legislature, the law enforcement community and the general public to call for a ban of “bath salts” because of the danger it posed to the community.
As a result, State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson issued an order last Tuesday declaring the substance be added to the Alabama Controlled Substances list as a Schedule I Stimulant, which makes the buying, selling or possession of the substance illegal in Alabama.
“It seems like every time we turn around, there is a new drug that poses a serious threat to our citizens,” Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said. “These drugs are often marketed as safe to use, but people in law enforcement and in the health community know that isn’t true.
“The unprecedented amount of time in which bath salts were made illegal shows how addictive it is and how dangerous the physical side effects are.
“Red Bay should be commended at how quickly they acted when they received information that this dangerous substance was in their city.”
Jackson said she is just thankful her department could get the substance off the street for the safety of the citizens.
“Our officers have worked around the clock all weekend on this case,” Jackson said. “We’re glad we were able to receive a break in the case and get a good handle on where the bath salts were coming from that have been filtering into the area.
“With this case coming just four days after bath salts were made illegal, he hope we have set a standard that lets people know that the use of this drug will not be tolerated,” Jackson said, “and we plan to continue to work hard to keep it out of the area.”
A third man was arrested Monday for his alleged involvement in the case.
Christopher Blake Sartin, 23, of Golden, Miss., was arrested Monday and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime and carrying a pistol without a permit.
According to Red Bay Police Chief Janna Jackson, the investigation of the two men arrested for possession of “bath salts” on Saturday led to the development of Sartin as a suspect in the fledgling operation.
Sartin is believed to be a local contact who was intercepting the illegal substance to then be distributed in the area.
Jackson said officers stopped Sartin on 5th Street NW in Red Bay about 6 p.m. Monday.
Sartin was found to be in possession of 40 grams of “bath salts,” two firearms and $600 in cash, all of which were confiscated by officers.
Sartin remains in the Franklin County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.
