14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Police on lookout for new, dangerous designer drug

Police on lookout for new, dangerous designer drug

Reporter: Drew Speier
New Media Producer: Rachel Chambliss

An off-duty Jasper police officer made an unusual and dangerous find while having lunch last month. That off-duty officer was at a Jasper restaurant when he noticed what he thought was drug deal taking place in the parking lot. He saw two men exchanging money and a plastic baggy with an unknown substance in it.

So, the officer called an on-duty officer to the scene. They arrested both men, both 19 years of age. One of the men is identified as Doug Maitlen, of Jasper. The other man arrested was Andrew Schmitt, also of Jasper.

The officers say the two men had more than three grams of an unknown white powder, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and almost $600 in cash. Both face several drug related charges.

Police later learned the white powder is an unusual and dangerous drug that has only been seen in Canada, Minnesota and Washington state. They also learned that it was purchased from China over the Internet and was shipped to Jasper. But they're concerned that small amounts of the drug may still be floating around in Jasper and Evansville.

It's a designer tryptamine type drug, described as a synthetic mushroom that has hallucinogenic qualities.

Police are warning parents to monitor what their children may be buying over the Internet. Many of these type drugs come from foreign countries that don't regulate their pharmaceuticals.