Four people arrested after thirteen overdoses, police said
Gainesville Police arrested four Gainesville residents in connection to 13 people who overdosed on a homemade drug Thursday.
Gary Wendell Norman, 64, Crystal Lynn Manos, 33, Hannah Brook Riddlespur, 28, and Rhonda D. Tompkins, 31, were arrested by police investigating 10 medical emergency calls made from Grace Marketplace, at 3055 NE 28th Drive, according to a press release.
Thirteen people were taken to hospitals after overdosing on “Spice,” a synthetic drug made to mimic the effects of marijuana, the release said.
Police got several reports of sick people along Northeast Waldo Road at about 4:30 p.m., the release said. At least 13 people were taken to hospitals because they showed symptoms associated with taking Spice.
A police dog smelled drugs inside a closed car at Grace Marketplace. Norman, the driver, and the three women were inside the car, according to arrest reports.
Police found 6.5 grams of suspected spice in three plastic bags, sandwich bags of crystalline powder and a syringe with a clear unidentified liquid, the reports said.
Tompkins had half of a white pill with “411” on it inside a small bag. A small piece of Spice was in Riddlespur’s bra, the report said.
Manos dropped a cigarette box holding three blunts containing less than a gram of Spice, the report said.
All four people were arrested. Jail staff found two bullets in Manos’ purse, police said.
Norman, Manos, Riddlespur and Tompkins were all charged with possession of a controlled substance and of drug paraphernalia. Manos was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Norman is being held at the Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond. Manos, Riddlespur and Tompkins were released Friday on their own recognizance.
Contact Jessica Curbelo at jcurbelo@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @jesscurbelo
