A truck stopped near Homer for not having outside rear-view mirrors led to two arrests Friday by Alaska State Troopers, who say the driver was under the influence of "Spice" synthetic marijuana and his passenger had violated drug-related probation conditions.
According to a Monday AST dispatch, troopers pulled over the 1997 GMC Jimmy at about 4:45 p.m. Friday, at roughly Mile 169 of the Sterling Highway. In an email to Channel 2, AST spokesperson Megan Peters says Homer man Samuel Reece, 19, was behind the wheel.
"(Reece) was determined to be under the influence of Spice through field sobriety tests and evidence of Spice use found in the vehicle," Peters wrote. "Confirmation of the Spice in his system will be made through the analysis of blood samples seized from Reece after his arrest."
Troopers found that Reece was in possession of methamphetamines, while both Reece and his passenger -- 22-year-old Christopher Derr of Anchor Point -- had marijuana.
Court records show that Reece was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, as well as one count each of fourth-degree and sixth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances. Records for Derr show him charged with one sixth-degree count of misconduct involving controlled substances, and troopers say he also violated conditions of his probation from a previous offense.
"Derr had felony probation conditions to not possess or consume controlled substances," Peters wrote.
According to Peters, the case highlights a rising trend of DUIs involving synthetic drugs rather than alcohol.
"Although not extremely prevalent, driving under the influence of synthetic drugs like Spice has increased significantly over the past year or so with the increased popularity of the drugs," Peters wrote.
Troopers arrested Reece and Derr, who were held at the Homer Jail without bail.
Contact Chris Klint
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AST Makes Synthetic Marijuana DUI, Drug Arrests in Homer Stop
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska
A truck stopped near Homer for not having outside rear-view mirrors led to two arrests Friday by Alaska State Troopers, who say the driver was under the influence of "Spice" synthetic marijuana and a passenger was violating conditions of his probation.
According to a Monday AST dispatch, the 1997 GMC Jimmy was stopped at about 4:45 p.m. Friday at roughly Mile 169 of the Sterling Highway. In an email to Channel 2, AST spokesperson Megan Peters says Homer man Samuel Reece, 19, was behind the wheel.
"(Reece) was determined to be under the influence of Spice through field sobriety tests and evidence of Spice use found in the vehicle," Peters wrote. "Confirmation of the Spice in his system will be made through the analysis of blood samples seized from Reece after his arrest."
Troopers found that Reece was in possession of methamphetamines, while both Reece and his passenger -- 22-year-old Christopher Derr of Anchor Point -- had marijuana.
Court records show that Reece was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, as well as one count each of fourth-degree and sixth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances. Records for Derr show him charged with one sixth-degree count of misconduct involving controlled substances, and troopers say he also violated conditions of his probation from a previous offense.
"Derr had felony probation conditions to not possess or consume controlled substances," Peters wrote.
According to Peters, the case highlights a rising trend of DUIs involving synthetic drugs rather than alcohol.
"Although not extremely prevalent, driving under the influence of synthetic drugs like Spice has increased significantly over the past year or so with the increased popularity of the drugs," Peters wrote.
Troopers arrested the men and held them at the Homer Jail without bail.