Hennepin County makes first arrest for sale of synthetic drugs
Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies made its first arrest under a state law passed this summer banning the sale of synthetic drugs.
County Sheriff Rich Stanek said his office received tips from patrons who reported illegal activity at a store called The Piecemakers in Rogers, Minn. Stanek said sheriff's deputies arrested the store's cashier and seized 400 packages of a substance alleged to be synthetic marijuana.
Acting on the tip, Hennepin county sheriff's office investigated by making a purchase from The Piecemakers and having it tested, Stanek said. When results reported the substance as synthetic marijuana, sheriff's deputies on Tuesday served a search warrant and arrested the clerk who was on duty at the time.
"We're going to continue with the investigation. Again, this isn't something we sought out initially, but we do respond from individual tips from citizens and residents, and quite honestly other businesses who do business in this field and they don't like what they're seeing," Stanek said. "It's responsibility of the shop owners to follow the laws of their state or their locale."
No charges have been filed in Rogers case. Messages left by MPR News at The Piecemakers weren't immediately returned.
In September, Duluth police raided a headshop that sold synthetic drugs. In March, a man was charged with murder for supplying synthetic drugs at a party where a 19 year old man died.
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