JASPER, Ga. -- A shop owner in Pickens County has been arrested and several agents, detectives and medical personnel sickened after a warranted search Friday morning.
HAZMAT crews were called to A-1 Smoke Shop on West Church Street in Jasper after a number of responders fell extremely ill while executing a search warrant.
Drug task force agents along with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office and the City of Jasper Police Department were involved in the investigation. During that search, a sheriff's office spokesperson said one of their detectives opened a container and was exposed to something "which immediately resulted in the detective experiencing adverse health conditions and symptoms."
That detective was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Public safety personnel who were treated the detective also began having reactions that were considered similar. In all, two detectives, a drug task force agent and two emergency medical services personnel were treated as was a store employee who became sick. All have since been released from the hospital.
After evacuating the area, the Cherokee County Hazardous Materials Team was called in to assist along with several other agencies. Nearby businesses were also evacuated as a precaution. The HAZMAT ultimately decontaminated the scene that afternoon.
HAZMAT called out after 'substance' sickens several during search warrant
Store owner Atulkumar J. Patel was arrested in the bust on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute along with other charges tied to piracy issues. If it's proven that Patel knew the substances in his shop could make people sick he could face additional charges.
Patel owns two stores, one in Pickens and another in Gilmore. Police believe he owns a third in Fannin County where he lives. They also expect more warrants to follow.
The investigation began after teens allegedly started getting sick and passing out after smoking something known as "Blaze." Police said the teens were allegedly buying e-cigarette liquid from the shop illegally.
Investigators said undercover buys were conducted at the shop and it soon became clear something wasn't right.
"That was mixed prior to their purchase and we believe some of their purchases or not all were made at some of these stories," Pickens County Sheriff's Office Cheif Deputy Jeff Hall said.
Then on Friday, a detective opened a seemingly innocent container with white powder inside. The detective got sick when that powder became airborne.
"Started with upper respiratory, went to vomiting, dizziness and became very faint," Sgt. Jody Weaver said. "When the paramedics came out, they checked him - his blood pressure was extremely elevated."
Then the others came down with similar symptoms including other officers and EMS workers.
The owner told police that the container opened by the first detective to fall ill had Kratom in it. The herb is known to relieve pain but is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule 1 drug similar to heroin or ecstasy. However, the investigators believe it was mixed with some unknown narcotic.
"We don't know that it's mixed with something," Hall said. "We don't know its concentration."
The substance will be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation State Crime Lab for analysis and the hospital that treated these patients is in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
