Official City of Salina, Kansas Website

Law enforcement officers have seen a drastic rise in the possession and use of herbal blends of synthetically altered potpourri and bath salt compounds within Salina and the Saline County area. These mind altering “legal drugs” have shown to be both very profitable for the people manufacturing and selling the drugs and devastating to the people who choose to ingest them.

Local law enforcement and medical personnel have recently responded to emergency calls to assist citizens who, after ingesting the substances, require immediate medical attention.

Dried plant materials treated with synthetic cannabinoids are commonly sold under the names of K2 through K7 or “herbal potpourri.” The substances, created in warehouse type environments by makeshift manufacturers, consist of mixing common potpourri leaves with chemicals such as ethyl alcohol or acetone, combined with synthetic compounds known as JWH-018, JHW-073, HU-210, stimulants BZP or TFMPP or other synthetic compounds.

Depending on the mixture, the strength of these clandestine drugs range from a weak to an extremely high potency. The effects the mixtures have on the person ingesting the compounds vary drastically.

Synthetic cannabinoid use in Salina and elsewhere has resulted in reports of individuals experiencing severe adverse effects, to include agitation (which can be severe and require sedation), anxiety, elevated blood pressure, intense hallucinations, numbness, pallor, tachycardia, tingling, vomiting and, in some cases, tremors and seizures.

Bath salts sold by retailers in Salina labeled as “Ivory Wave” or “Vanilla Sky” are not bath salts at all. The compound found in the “salts,” Methylene Dioxy Pyrovalerone (MDPV), is very similar to methamphetamine and it is ingested in the same manner as methamphetamine or cocaine.

Herbal potpourri is smoked from pipes commonly used to smoke marijuana. The MDPV “bath salts” are ingested by placing the salt compounds directly in the mouth, smoking in glass “rose bud” type methamphetamine pipes, snorting or injecting the powder substance, or mixing the compounds in drinks.

MDPV was directly linked to the death of a young male in St. Joseph, Missouri earlier in the year. It is reportedly very addictive and has been found to be substituted for methamphetamine.

Manufacturers and distributors market these products as potpourri, herbal blends and bath salts and label them “not for human consumption” to evade law enforcement scrutiny. Law enforcement officials in Salina and across the nation are working feverishly to respond to this significant threat to public safety. Steps are being taken to close loopholes in the law and regulate the manufacture, distribution, sale, use or possession of K-2 type potpourri compounds and Methylene Dioxy Pyrovalerone (MDPV) “bath salts.” Current Kansas law only outlaws the compounds known as JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210 and the stimulants BZP and TFMPP.

Very little is known about the pharmacology, toxicology, and safety profile of the aforementioned compounds in humans. Following a recent Salina medical emergency, one subject reported that he placed potpourri, labeled “Blackberry Truffle, in a pipe and took “two hits off of it.” He referred to the experience as “completely hallucinating, seeing all kinds of stuff, and talking to God and the devil.” He became violent, and reported the next thing he remembered was waking up in the E.R.

The Salina Police Department wants the public to be fully aware of the significant health and public safety risks involved in ingesting these dangerous compounds, which have the potential to be extremely harmful due to their method of manufacture and high pharmacological potency. Use of these products presents a clear and present danger to public health, safety and welfare.

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Yesterday, June 22, 2010, the department was notified of a scam involving Craig's List and housing rentals. In this scam, the suspect (in a location other than Salina) gleaned information on real estate listed for sale from local advertisements. The suspect then relisted the property on Craig's List (or others) - but instead, listed the property for rent. The scam artist then went into great detail to explain why he is out of the country, but could have alternatively used a third party to make it appear he is in the US, as we have seen in other swindles. This scam apparently has two goals: money and information useful in identify theft.

What follows is an email the suspect sent when he replied to an inquiry about renting the property. In this case, the usual poor English is a possible giveaway, but a call to the realtor whose sign is in the yard would confirm the listing is a scam.

“Hi,

Thanks for emailing me regarding the house that is still available, but presently I'm on a business trip to West Africa. I bid for a portion of petroleum land sometime ago in West Africa and fortunately I won, so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up. I came over here with my wife; we both bought the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the house, so I have to look for an agent and getting one we strike a deal but later my wife advised me on selling the house. I reasoned with her and accepted her advice. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have given the same agent this job also but the truth of the matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later and more I do not have anyone in the area to leave the keys behind with so that is why I posted ad myself. If you notice, you will discover that the price we are offering is far below standard price and I this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won't be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. The house is available for as long as you want and if you drive by the house you may see a sign there, you have nothing to worry about it belongs to my previous agent so you have absolutely nothing to worry about and you don't have to call them because they do not have access to the house anymore. Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose:”

The email then asks for all personal information and pets (pet information is used to defeat passwords). It ends with: “You will not be able to view the interior part of the house because I have the keys here with me but I can send you pictures.”

For Release: October 13, 2009 Contact: Chief James D. Hill

Second Suspect Arrested in Alfred Mack, Jr. Homicide Investigation

On June 13, 2009 at approximately 5:50 a.m., officers were investigating a case at 1012 Johnstown, Apartment B, when they discovered the door to Apartment C forced open. Within the apartment, Alfred Wilfred Mack, Jr., age 24, of that address, was found deceased from a gunshot wound, the victim of a homicide.

On October 12, 2009 at 7:45 p.m., officers arrested Thomas Eugene Jenkins, age 29, at his residence at 1200 N. 10th Street, pursuant to a Saline County District Court arrest warrant in connection with the Mack homicide. Jenkins was booked into the Saline County Jail on charges specified in the arrest warrant as follows:

• First Degree Murder
• Aggravated Burglary – 2 counts
• First Degree Murder During the Commission of a Felony
• Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder
• Felony Theft

On the afternoon of October 13, 2009, Willie Jerome Parker-Smith, age 28, was contacted by a Salina police investigator at the Saline County Jail, where he has been incarcerated since June 19, 2009 on multiple charges, to include Second Degree Murder in the Justin Letourneau homicide. Parker was subsequently served with a Saline County District Court Arrest Warrant in connection with the Mack homicide, and he was booked on the following charges:

• First Degree Murder
• First Degree Murder During the Commission of a Felony
• Aggravated Burglary – 2 counts
• Felony Theft

The police investigation into the murder of Alfred Mack is on-going, and anyone with information regarding the homicide is urged to contact the Salina Police Department.

All questions relative to this case should be directed to the Office of the Saline County Attorney.

NEWS RELEASE
JULY 2, 2009

Salina Police Department Launces On-line Crime Alerting and Mapping Service
Citizens empowered with near real-time neighborhood crime information available 24/7/365

The Salina Police Department is pleased to announce a new on-line crime alerting and mapping service that provides the citizens of Salina with easy to read incident crime maps and automated crime alerts. The service, which may be accessed directly from the Salina Police Department Web site at www.pd.salina.org, provides near real-time neighborhood crime data and is available now.

The crime alert and mapping service is free to the public and allows citizens to receive automatic daily, weekly or monthly email alerts if/when crimes occur near their home, office, school, etc. Citizens can also view reported crime activity on an easy to use map for any location within the corporate city limits of Salina. Crime incident data is updated nightly and includes:
• Incident type
• Date
• Location
• Distance from citizen’s address
• Event identification/case number
• Brief crime incident description

“This crime reporting service will prove particularly valuable to those in our community who want to stay informed about what is going on in their neighborhoods and it will empower citizens to work with the police department to address neighborhood crime issues,” said Chief James Hill.

“Our citizens understand that crime is not solely a police problem, but a community problem, and they’ve never hesitated to step forward and help their police department to keep Salina safe. We anticipate that this crime reporting medium will help raise awareness in our city and create stronger community policing programs that will further enhance the sharing of information between law enforcement and the public,” Hill said.

“By participating in CrimeReports.com, the Salina Police Department is demonstrating its commitment to service and safety by making timely crime information available to the citizens of Salina,” said Greg Whisenant, co-founder and CEO of Public Engines, which makes the CrimeReports.com application. “Chief Hill and his staff are forward-looking, providing near real-time, location specific information to the public when they need it,” he said.

24 HOUR ONLINE CRIME REPORTING

NEWS RELEASE
APRIL 30, 2009

On May 1, 2009, the Salina Police Department will launch CopLogic, a bilingual online citizen reporting service which will make filing police reports much easier and faster. The CopLogic program allows citizens to file certain reports (minor thefts, lost property, vandalism, vehicle burglary and crime tips) at their convenience, from the comfort of their own home or from any internet point. In addition to English, citizens may also access the program in Spanish. We plan to add languages to include Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Lao in the near future.

Salina police officers handle an average of 3,000 citizen calls for service each month, which must be prioritized so that emergencies are responded to in a quick and efficient manner. While the average officer response time to the scene of an emergency is four minutes, during periods of peak demand, the response to non-emergency calls may be delayed an hour or more. By filing a police report online, citizens will not have to wait for an officer to respond and will automatically receive a copy of their police report via email.

A report can be filed online if the following criteria are met:
1. The crime occurred within the city limits of Salina;
2. The suspect is unknown or cannot be described;
3. The value of property taken or vandalized is less than $1,000; and
4. The incident is not an emergency.

Emergencies should always be reported by calling 9-1-1. Non-emergency criminal activity that does not fit the criteria for online reporting will continue to require an officer response by calling 826-7210 (24hours/day).

The system is user friendly, requiring the filer to complete a series of basic questions about the incident, and send the information to the police department. The electronic report will be reviewed by police personnel and, if approved, the reporting party will receive a copy of the report via email with an assigned S.P.D. case number, free of charge. The report will automatically merge into the police department records management system, where it will receive the same investigative and statistical analysis as if the report had been filed by a police officer.

The police department continually searches for innovative ways to provide the citizens of Salina with high quality, cost effective police service. Victims benefit from online reporting by not having to wait for a police officer to arrive at their home or business, and public safety is enhanced when police man-hours are saved, freeing officers for other duties. The anticipated increase in non-committed officer time will be 1) used to reduce police emergency response times, and 2) diverted to other patrol and crime prevention strategies.

Watch video of first online crime report success!

The online reporting system can be accessed directly from the Salina Police Department website at www.pd.salina.org

NEWS RELEASE
Janurary, 2008

The reward in a Salina murder case is up to $6,000.

On Monday, January 21, 2008, police found 56-year-old Beverly Ann Logan dead in her home at 1200 East Iron, a victim of a homicide. Since that time police have been seeking the public's help in finding the individual or individuals responsible.

A composite photo of a "person of interest" in the case was released late Friday night. It is generating new leads for police in the week-old murder case.

The man in the composite was last seen standing on the south east corner of Connecticut and Iron at about 1:00 in the afternoon on Monday January 21st. He is described as a black male, approximately 25-35 years of age, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches in height, approximately 175 pounds in weight, wearing a black.

City/County Building
300 W. Ash Street
Salina, KS 67401