Bath Salts Seized During Wilton Traffic Stop: Police

WILTON, CT — An East Haven man was arrested after a traffic stop led to the seizure of bath salts and other narcotics on Danbury Road in Wilton Saturday, according to local police. Thomas Smith, 38, was charged with illegal possession of narcotics, illegal storage of narcotics, operating an unregistered vehicle and improper number of headlights.

Police say they stopped Smith's Pontiac Grand Prix at the intersection of Danbury and Cannon Roads at 11:00 a.m. after seeing that he had a headlight out and an expired reservation as of February of 2014. Following an investigation, police found Smith had narcotic pills in a plastic tube in his pocket that he claimed were prescribed to him. To sign up for Wilton breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Smith was unable to produce any of the pills' original containers, according to police. Officers searching the car found a small plastic object with white powder coming out of it, a powder which later tested presumptive positive for MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) or "bath salts," police say.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, recent studies on MDPV show that the drug affects the brain in a similar manner to cocaine but is at least 10 times more powerful. Bath salts can cause paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks, extreme agitation and violent behavior, according to the NIDA.

Police say the original pills Smith was found with were later found to be legally prescribed to him. Smith was given a bond of $2,500 and is due in Norwalk Superior Court on May 11.

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