BEAUMONT- by Haley BullBeaumont Police are working to clear synthetic marijuana off the streets of Beaumont. Tuesday, officers arrested three men they said they believed to be distributing the drug. Police said Quentin Pete, 38, Kenneth Johnson, 24, and Tristan Jackson, 19, are facing charges of possession of a controlled substance."It looks like we've taken some of the people who are manufacturing and selling this synthetic marijuana off the streets and it may actually yield more evidence for us to pursue more people who are selling the synthetic marijuana," Beaumont Police Sgt. Rob Flores said. A dangerous batch of synthetic marijuana police said is known as "woo" or "gumbo" sent dozens of people to hospitals with potentially fatal overdoses during the holidays."We've noticed an increase even prior to this rash, but it seems because of this enhanced batch it's really come to the forefront," Flores said.Investigators said they don't have proof the overdoses are linked to this case, but Crimestoppers tips following the rash of overdoses helped lead them to two homes in the north end of town.Tuesday night, police said they served search warrants at two houses in the 3600 block of Lorilee in Beaumont. There, officers said they found about half a pound of synthetic marijuana."We found a quantity of a unknown substance, some type of chemical which is being used in the manufacturing of the synthetic marijuana and we found a lot of paraphernalia that indicates that they were more than likely packaging, manufacturing and packaging that synthetic marijuana," Flores said.The Texas legislature will consider a series of bills related to synthetic marijuana and chemical compounds this upcoming session. In the meantime, there's no delay for investigators police said are working to identify the source of the drug.
