A Florida man has been arrested after authorities said he phoned the police to check if his methamphetamine was authentic.
If you're going to buy illegal drugs, surely the first rule is not telling the police? Alas, Thomas Eugene Colucci, of Spring Hill, appeared to miss that memo.
The 41-year-old's run-in with local law enforcement came after he dialled 911 with a pressing emergency: he wanted to have the meth he bought at a bar tested for authenticity.
Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to his home on March 10 following Colucci's unusual request.
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'Colucci told deputies he had recently purchased methamphetamine from a male he met in a local bar, and after having used a bit of it, believed it was actually bath salts,' a news release reads.
He then went on to tell officers he was an 'experienced drug user' who'd used meth previously, police said, and 'knew what it should feel like'. On this occasion, his purchase didn't give him the intended effect.
Colucci then produced two small baggies containing a white crystal-like substance, which he handed to one of the deputies.
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Not only did Colucci want to have his meth tested for authenticity, hoping to keep others from buying 'fake' drugs, but he wanted the police to 'put the person in trouble' for selling it to him in the first place. Unfortunately, he couldn't provide any information about the dealer.
'As requested, a deputy performed a field test on a sample of the white crystal-like substance from each of the baggies. The substance from both baggies tested positive for methamphetamine,' the release continues.
Colucci was arrested and put in the back of a patrol vehicle, where he started to experience chest pains. He was taken to a local hospital, and later cleared by a physician.
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He was then taken to the Hernando County Detention Centre on charges of possession of methamphetamine and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Colucci was released on Friday, March 11, after posting $7,000 bail, Fox 13 News reports.
The sheriff's office shared Colucci's story on social media alongside his photo and another image which says: 'You just can't make this stuff up!'
'If you, or someone you know, have doubts about the authenticity of any illegal narcotics you have on-hand or have obtained from another person, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to provide this service, FREE of charge,' the release added.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week