HazMat checks out drug odors

Odors emitting from evidence seized during an arrest caused two Pea Ridge police officers to have headaches, prompting a visit from a HazMat team to the Pea Ridge Police Department Thursday, June 6.

“We recently brought some evidence back from the State Crime Lab in Little Rock,” Police Chief Tim Ledbetter explained, saying that the officers who were in the vehicle complained of headaches after being subjected to the odor emitted from the evidence.

Much of the evidence was K2, Ledbetter said, adding that there was a little heroine and methamphetamine in there as well.

“We believe the chemicals used in the process of making K2 can be very dangerous,” he said.

The drugs were seized from a house in which there were young children living.

He recalled another incident in which a young man had just received a package of K2, used it, then had a seizure while driving, resulting in an automobile accident.

Lt. Jim Johnson of the Bella Vista Fire Department said the HazMat team has diversified into a regional response team.

Officers Scott Larson and James Hollenbeck, as well as Bentonville firefighter Randy Gulley, worked together to evaluate the substances, which were then sealed to prevent further contamination.

News, Pages 1 on 06/12/2013