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POLICE FIND NEW DESIGNER DRUG

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:50 AM CDT

What was believed to be ecstasy pills when they were seized by police during the Zero Tolerance campaign in early June have been identified as a new designer drug that authorities said is 10 to 20 times more potent than amphetamines.

Lt. Bob Rawlinson said the drug, benzylpiperazine (BZP) is sometimes called “A2,” “Frenzy,” “Nemesis,” and “Molly,” and has been promoted as an alternative to MDMA (ecstasy).

A Pine Bluff man, James Rogers, 25, of 1519 W. 20th Ave., who was seen dropping the pills while being chased by police was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and the pills were sent to the State Crime Laboratory at Little Rock where they were identified earlier this week.

The pills were found June 6 by vice and narcotics officers Billy Reed and Sgt. Derrel Lantrip who were northbound on University Drive at approximately 11:45 p.m. when they heard loud music coming from a vehicle parked on the sidewalk north of Bell Street, and creating a traffic hazard.

Rogers told the officers he owned the car and while he was looking for paperwork for the car, Lantrip reported seeing a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in plain view on the ashtray connected to the dashboard of the vehicle.

Rawlinson said Lantrip ordered Rogers to get out of the car and when he did, ran north on University Drive. He fell and dropped the bag containing 27 multi-colored pills and a cell phone before jumping up and continuing to run north behind several buildings.

Lantrip reported chasing Rogers for about two blocks before Rogers fell again and was taken into custody behind the car wash at University Drive and Bell Street.

Rawlinson said BZP was designated a schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency in March 2004. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin and MDMA (ecstasy) have a high potential for abuse and serve no legitimate medical purpose in the United States.

He said anyone with information about the manufacture and distribution of BZP or any other Illegal substance should contact the vice and narcotics unit at 543-5119 or the Crime Hotline at 543-5110 and all calls will be kept confidential.

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