DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – An undercover investigation netted two arrests in connection to what’s being called a growing synthetic pot epidemic in downtown Dallas. Dallas Fire-Rescue has fielded nearly 200 emergency calls related to “K2” since Dec. 1.
Martin Zamora, 28, and Dominick Harrell, 31, were arrested Tuesday. Both were charged with first-degree felony delivery of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $100,000 each.
Police can’t say for certain the pair is linked to the illnesses. “I don’t know which mixtures it was. There are various packages…We don’t know which strains were causing it, but we do know there was an abundance of calls,” said Deputy Chief Vernon Hale, who is with the Dallas Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Divisions.
According to Hale, the bust was part of a joint operation between Street Squad Narcotics detectives, Central Patrol, DART, and El Centro police officers.
Hale said dealers are targeting young people and transients. “Stay away from this dangerous drug. It comes in pretty packages, but I call it the S.B.S., some bad stuff.”
Hale added that the dangers of the synthetic drugs are enhanced because dosages of the actual chemical substance vary from package to package. “These guys, at home or in a garage or backyard, are spraying these chemicals on this leafy substance and packaging it… There is no consistency in the manufacturing process… These are dangerous drugs. High dosages and mixtures have caused sickness, organ damage, brain damage and death in some cases.”
Hale said undercover operations in the downtown area will continue.
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