Asheville police charge man with DWI, say he was smoking synthetic marijuana

Jason Sandford November 28, 2012

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Here’s the press release from the Asheville Police Department:

On November 27, 2012 at approximately 12:21pm APD officers saw a Jeep driving on US 70 in east Asheville. Officers noticed that the driver was smoking a substance from a pipe and that a green gas nozzle and hose was hanging from the gas tank of the Jeep.

As Officers approached the Jeep they noticed that the driver was still lighting and smoking the pipe and was in close proximity to a gas can in the passenger area of the Jeep. During the roadside investigation Officers determined that the driver, William Buchanan of Nebo had driven to Asheville to purchase a large quantity of synthetic marijuana from Octopus Garden in East Asheville. After smoking some product Buchanan stopped for gas at the BP station located at 1411 Tunnel rd and drove off with the gas nozzle and hose still attached to the Jeep.

Officers arrested Buchanan for DWI and damage to property.

Read the police report here on the arrest of William Buchanan.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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6 Comments

Abraham Lincoln November 29, 2012

synthetic pot? hahahahahahaaaa, what an idiot, just smoke the real stuff

Reply
Super Sam November 29, 2012

There is a two-prong test for impairment: one part is the per se test (Did he blow .08 or greater on intoxilyzer?), the other based on other evidence of appreciable impairment (e.g., erratic driving, smell, driving off with a gas house, etc.).

Reply
Concerned Citizen November 29, 2012

Can we please get Octopus Garden to stop selling this stuff? They are making lots of profit from this poison and are endangering our citizens. This should be telling enough to get this dangerous “spice” banned for good. I think it would be a great PR move on Octopus Garden’s part to voluntarily stop selling this stuff.

Reply
1. josh January 12, 2013
  
  can we get every computer duster sprays like baned or any thang else like it because dumb ass kid miss use it wtf look real issues like the atf and the guns the give a way they to fram sum one
  
  Reply
Jeff Murphy November 28, 2012

According to the internets synthetic pot does not show up in drug tests …
so how will he be convicted if there in no positive test for drugs?

Reply
1. Nate November 28, 2012
  
  I think the fact that the officers witnessed him smoking from the pipe and then confiscated it would be enough. Police testimony counts for a lot in the courtroom.
  
  Reply