Area task force makes bath salts busts

Van Wert independent/WCOCTF information

A news release from Delphos Police Chief Kyle Fittro documents efforts by a local task force in enforcing the state’s ban on bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

In October 2011, the Oho General Assembly banned all bath salts and synthetic marijuana, the release noted. Shortly after the law took effect, members of the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force personally went to multiple locations that historically had been selling those types of substances. Task force members advised the owners and employees of the shops of the recent ban and explained that they could no longer sell these types of substances.

A short time later, task force officers began receiving complaints that several locations were still selling the now-illegal substances, even after they had been advised they could no longer do so. After receiving the complaints, task force members initiated an undercover operation to determine if the citizen complaints were valid.

Using undercover officers and confidential informants, task force members went to multiple locations and purchased substances that appeared to be the now-illegal bath salts and synthetic marijuana.

After purchasing the substances, the task force sent them to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation lab for thorough analysis. After waiting a period of time, the results came back that the substances were in fact the same ones that had been outlawed.

After receiving this information, task force officers coordinated another round of undercover buys into these same locations, purchasing additional amounts of the now-illegal substances.

On Friday, task force officers secured, and served, search warrants against three locations in Allen County.

The following items were seized from three locations listed below:

Brothers House of Glass, 1273 N. Cole St. in Lima

• Multiple firearms
• An undisclosed amount of cash
• A large amount of suspected bath salts and synthetic marijuana
• One man was arrested at this location; however, his identity is being withheld pending the filing of formal charges.

The 420 Clinic, 1000 N. Cole St. in Lima

• An undisclosed amount of cash
• A video surveillance system
• A large amount of unknown substances that will be sent in for testing

R Smokes, 241 Elida Road in Delphos

• An undisclosed amount of cash
• A video surveillance system
• A large amount of unknown substances that will be sent in for testing

Task force members said they would continue to monitor these locations to ensure they are compliant with Ohio’s new ban on bath salts and synthetic marijuana.