Sheriffs discuss 'dry spring' initiative

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - Sheriffs from across northwest Florida held a news conference and demonstration at the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Shalimar on Wednesday, March 6, to highlight their "Dry Spring" operational initiatives.

Authorities said battle lines have been drawn. One year after lawmakers banned dozens of chemical blends, the fight against synthetic drugs rages on.

“We want to make our visitors and our locals aware that these substances are illegal, and we want to make our visitors and locals aware that these substances are dangerous," said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley.

In a joint press conference with Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen and Walton County’s Mike Adkinson,  Ashley outlined a plan to create a “Dry Spring” initiative. Ashley said illegal substances sullying spring break, many of which could send students to the hospita, won’t be tolerated.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make our public safe and aware of it," Ashley said.

To demonstrate his point, Sheriff Ashley flattened and shattered hundreds of confiscated bongs and pipes with a construction roller.

“It was great," Ashley said. I have a secondary employment. If I’m not sheriff any longer, I can work in the road department and crush stuff up, pound the pavement. I have no problem with that; it was fun.”

According to officials, the roller crushed approximately $1 million in seized synthetic drug paraphernalia approved by the courts to be destroyed.

It was strong imagery representing a stride in the war on synthetic drugs, which authorities said sent 7,000 young people to the hospital in 2011.

That’s more than twice as many as the year before.

“We’ve got to do something to address it, and let kids know and parents know that they’re not buying candy at the store across the counter. They’re buying serious drugs that have been outlawed," Ashley said. "We’re going to put the folks that are selling these drugs out of business.”

The three sheriffs got their local chambers on-board to have businesses pledge not to sell the substances.

“Tolerance is permission; and we will no longer give permission through inaction to continue selling this poison to our kids," Ashley said.

Since January 2012, OCSO's Drug Task Force has made four synthetic drug arrests, with more pending and has seized about $3.5 million in money and inventory.