By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Powdered heroin. Blow dope.
The drug is showing up in a new form locally, reportedly found most often among young people.
Police have encountered a sudden spike of it in Lewis County, according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Apparently you can blow on it, or add some moisture and then smoke it,” Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke said.
O’Rourke says it’s essentially powdered heroin, that clumps up when mixed with water.
“Law enforcement suspects it might be a new arrival, maybe easier to smuggle as powder,” he said.
O’Rourke said he saw his first case yesterday when he charged a 20-year-old man who was arrested Sunday in Winlock for allegedly selling it.
Matthew C. Gilmon was ordered held on $20,000 bail when he appeared briefly in Lewis County Superior Court. He is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, an offense with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
According to charging documents, Centralia police came across an individual early last month who was willing to work with them on undercover buys.
Once officers watched the “confidential informant” drive to the Subway next to Jack-in-the-box in Chehalis, where he or she parked, got into a maroon Volkswagen Jetta and emerged with $20 worth of the powder in a small tin foil bindle, according to charging documents.
Two weeks ago, the same informant approached the same suspect and purchased more, all while under police surveillance, charging documents allege. The price is not mentioned in the second transaction.
The brown powdered substance has an odor of vinegar, consistent with being heroin, according to the documents. The suspected narcotics field tested positive for heroin, the documents state.
Centralia Officers Lowrey and Haggarty on Sunday contacted Gilmon at his last known address, on Lane Drive in Winlock, according to O’Rourke.
Under questioning, Gilmon denied delivering heroin, but subsequently said he does help out friends who are “sick” by giving it to them, according to charging documents.
He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.
O’Rourke admits he doesn’t know much about the so-called blow dope, since it’s new.
The powder will be tested at a lab, he said.
“That’s what they’re calling it on the street, I guess we’re gonna be seeing that pop up,” he said yesterday.
Gilmon, whose address is listed as in Chehalis in his court file, is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.