A man suspected as one of the sources of heroin-laced vape pens that led to the hospitalization of two high school students within 24 hours has been arrested.
Tristen Clay Anderson, 23, of Bolivar, Ohio, is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance, Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said.
“Today, following up on leads that were generated, officers of the Morgantown Police Department and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force were able to identify and confirm another source of the suspected ‘vape pens’ and ‘vaping solutions,’ ” Preston said.
Police recovered more than 25 pounds of marijuana, more than 70 bottles of “highly concentrated Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils and other controlled substances,” more than 300 TKO labeled vaping cartridges and over 100 THC edible candies in a search of Anderson’s home on Virginia Avenue.
Morgantown’s communication manager Andrew Stacy said the value of the seized drugs is unknown. However, honestmarijuana.com, a website which lists the average marijuana price by state, said the seized marijuana alone is worth about $111,000.
Ganja Godess, a California business, sells THC vape cartridges from $33 to $50 each.
On Nov. 4, the MPD warned that a TKO branded vape cartridge was confirmed to be contaminated with heroin and other dangerous chemicals.
Before Anderson’s house was searched, he was stopped by a K-9 officer about 6 p.m., Wednesday, on Gallatin Street, in his 2018 Dodge Ram Truck, Preston said.
The investigation into the contaminated vapes led police to target Anderson and the stop was not routine, Stacy said. The investigation is continuing.
K-9 Oliver alerted on the vehicle and a search lead to the recovery of more than 2 ½ pounds of marijuana, scales and packing materials, according to Preston.
Anderson was arraigned on Thursday afternoon by Magistrate Jim Nabors. He is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.
A juvenile high school student was previously charged in connection with the vape overdoses after police found over 100 filled vape solutions, marijuana, packaging materials and empty vape cartridges that were being filled with the suspected vaping solution, the MPD announced on Nov. 4.
According to police, that student distributed at least one of the contaminated devices
The two overdoses were announced by the MPD on Nov. 1 and happened within a 24-hour period.
