Willimantic police have arrested four people in connection with tainted K2, or synthetic marijuana, believed to have caused psychotic behavior and sent 12 people to the hospital.
Police said they responded to 12 cases on Monday of Willimantic residents ingesting the drug, which they believe was laced with another substance, and received a tip that identified Thomas Gasper Jr., 39, as a suspect, according to a news release from police.
The tip was that the drugs were sold from the residence at 28 Arnolds Lane in Willimantic, so police set up surveillance and saw Gasper hand over drugs to someone on a porch, police said.
Authorities also stopped a vehicle in connection to the case, arrested the three people inside and seized K2, police said.
When police searched 28 Arnolds Lane, they found several brands of K2, money, scales, packaging material and a large drain pan with K2 residue that police said was used as a mixing bowl.
Some of the K2 was packaged to sell, while some was still in the original brand packaging, police said.
In all, it is believed to be worth $500.
Gasper Jr. has been previously convicted for a narcotics offense and his bond was set at $250,000.
He is due in court today to face charges, including possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia in a drug factory and operation of a drug factory.
Police said they also arrested Vanessa Torruella, 22, of Willimantic, Jessica Klein, 31, of Willimantic, and Justin Blantz, of Willimantic. They are due in court on May 14.
The patients who took the K2, all adults, showed symptoms including body temperatures as high as 106 degrees and blood pressure as high as 240, police said, and needed to be hospitalized.
Many of the people who used the synthetic drug have exhibited psychotic behaviors, like running around scantily clad on city streets in Willimantic, police said.
"We have seen psychotic behavior by these personnel. We've seen people running around loosely dressed, or without shirts, running down main thoroughfares within the city. They're looking for assistance," Cpl. Stan Parizo, of the Willimantic Police Department, said.
Police are having the synthetic marijuana tested to see if it is laced and they are warning of the dangers of drug use, particularly because it's not clear what it is being mixed with the drug.
Police urge residents to call 911 if you see anyone behaving unusually or in need of medical attention.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com