Police raid State Street Business, CONFISCATE ‘synthetic marijuana’
NEWTOWN BOROUGH – Charges are pending against the owners of a South State Street business that police said sold potent synthetic “spices” and drug paraphernalia to local juveniles.
Northampton Township Police Detectives, with the assistance of the Newtown Borough Police Department and the Bucks County District AWWRUnHy’s 2IficH, HxHcuWHG D sHDUcK warrant on June 26 at the Tobacco Leaf, 15 South State Street.
The raid netted items valued at apSURxLPDWHOy $10,000, LncOuGLnJ 177 SLSHs, 21 JULnGHUs, 70 scDOHs DnG DERuW 300 SDcNDJHs RI DssRUWHG “sSLcHs,” also known as synthetic marijuana.
Police said although the paraphernalia was on display, potential customers had to ask for the spices, which were marked “not for human consumption” and stored beneath the counter.
The store allegedly sold the spices under the names “Orgasmo,” “BizarUR” DnG “FunNy MRnNHy” IRU $20 DnG $40. TKH PRnHy IURP WKH sDOHs, SROLcH said, was kept in a separate area under the counter and not placed in the register with other legitimate sales.
In late May, police received a tip that minors were obtaining synthetic marijuana at the store. Police immediately got in touch with Newtown Borough and the District Attorney’s 2IficH DnG IRUPuODWHG Dn DcWLRn SODn to see if there was probable cause for a search warrant.
During the course of the investigation, Det. Sgt. Bill Klein said police learned that after smoking the spices, the juveniles became violently ill and disoriented.
“On multiple occasions while under-
dercover officers were inside the establishment individuals appearing to be under the influence and under age would enter and purchase spices,” said Klein.
“It’s marked on the outside not for human consumption. You don’t know what’s in that stuff or what it’s going to do to you and your mind,” added Det. Charles Pinker- ton, who advises parents to speak to their teens about the dangers involved and to “be aware” of what’s going on in their community.
In addition, detectives arrested Deborah Kiernicki of the 2900 block of Atkinson Place, Holland, for driving 16 to 17 year old juveniles to the store to purchase spice for them, allowing them to smoke the spices in her presence at her home and sometimes smoking the spices with the juveniles. She is also accused of buying beer for the juveniles, and getting gas money in return.
Police have charged Kiernicki with corrupting the morals of a minor and providing alcohol to minors. She was arraigned and remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 bail.