Police Seize 'Bath Salts' While Executing Search Warrant at Downtown Iowa City Business

From the City of Iowa City:

In the interest of public safety, on 08-02-12, after a joint investigation the Johnson County Multi Agency Narcotics Task Force and the Iowa City Police Departments Street Crimes Action Team executed a search warrant at the business operating as the located at 116 East Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240 after investigating multiple reports of the sales of synthetic drugs commonly known as bath salts. Bath salts are the slang term for non-pharmaceutical synthetic cathinones. They are classified as Schedule I controlled substances and therefore illegal to possess, distribute and/or manufacture.

Over the course of the search warrant, several synthetic drug substances suspected to be bath salts were seized. These items are currently being tested at the State of Iowa criminal investigation laboratory and charges are pending further investigation. This case remains under investigation.

The Johnson County Multi Agency Narcotics Task Force and the Iowa City Police Departments Street Crimes Action Team remind citizens that substances such as bath salts are not for human consumption and have known affects such as increased blood pressure, experiences of paranoia, thoughts of suicide and violent behavior, as well as hallucinations and delusions while under the influence.

The Johnson County Multi Agency Narcotics Task Force consists of officers from the Iowa City Police Department, the State of Iowa Divisions of Narcotics Enforcement, the , the Coralville Police Department, and the University of Iowa Police Department.