Three Men Arrested for Distribution of Bath Salts
updated: Feb 08, 2013, 12:37 PM

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Community: Suspects Arrested for Distribution of Bath Salts in Ventura County

Nature of Incident: Three Men Arrested for Distribution of Bath Salts

Report Number: 12-14632

Location: Moorpark / Thousand Oaks / West Jordan, Utah

Date & Time: June 2012 - January 2013

Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff's Office / Ventura County District Attorney's Office West Jordan Police Department / Federal Bureau of Investigation

(S)uspects City of Residence Age Wright, Joshua Longfellow Moorpark 36 Sarrail, Brandon James Simi Valley 26 Riedel, Jonathan Kirk West Jordan, Utah 31

Narrative: Three adults have been arrested and charged with the sale, possession for sale, and distribution of "bath salts," the street name for illicit, synthetic stimulants containing methamphetamine-like substances.

The distribution occurred through two local head shops in Eastern Ventura County in what may be the first case of its kind in the state of California.

A head shop is a store that primarily sells products used by recreational drug users, such as glass smoking pipes. The shops operate in a legal gray area, because many of their products can be used to smoke or ingest either illegal drugs or tobacco.

An investigation into the Doughmain head shops in Moorpark and Thousand Oaks began when a Moorpark woman crashed her car into a residence in June of 2012. The woman told deputies she had used bath salts purchased from the Moorpark Doughmain store before the traffic collision.

An undercover detective purchased five different types of bath salts from Doughmain in Moorpark in June 2012.

Another detective purchased two different types of bath salts from Doughmain in Thousand Oaks in July 2012.

In September 2012, investigators served search warrants at both Doughmain store locations and atthe residence of Joshua Wright, the owner of Doughmain. They seized hundreds of packages of bath salts, spice, and other synthetic stimulants.

The investigation also revealed a connection to a man in Utah who was supplying many of the bath salts to Doughmain. A coordinated investigation between the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and the West Jordan Police Department in Utah led to a search warrant being served at the residence of Jonathan Riedel in Utah.

Investigators seized hundreds of pounds of plants, powders, and pills as well as a vehicle, $22,000 in cash, and silver valued at $23,000. Because certain ingredients in the bath salts are considered controlled substances in the state of California, the three suspects have been charged with distribution of a controlled substance under the same charges as if they were distributing and selling methamphetamine or ecstasy.

Bath salts are potent, addictive, and extremely dangerous. While they are packaged and sold to look like legitimate products that are legal to sell or possess, they are not. Bath salts are marketed under names such as Blizzard, Bliss, Blue Silk, Ivory Snow, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Stardust, Vanilla Sky, White Lightning, White Knight, Pump It, Amped, and Bubbles.

Law enforcement agencies are working to shut down the sales of these products being sold through businesses in Ventura County, and public awareness is a key to confronting this problem. It is important for parents, educators, and medical professionals to be aware of these products and to inform children, students, and patients about the dangers of these items marketed as synthetic stimulants.

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MUG SHOT GALLERY

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