Arrest made after search warrant on Pickens County vape shop

PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. - Five officials have been released from the hospital late Friday night after being exposed to an unknown substance during the execution of a search warrant. One person has been taken into custody.

Atulkumar Jayan Patel was charged with manufacturing, distributing, dispensing or possessing controlled substances, and a second felony warrant for distribution of Nitrous Oxide, according to Sgt. Jody Weaver with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened at the A-1 Smoke Shop located at 684 West Church Street in Jasper. Sgt. Weaver said deputies and detectives were executing a search warrant when one of the detectives came in contact with an unknown substance and started “experiencing adverse health conditions and symptoms.” The detective was rushed to an area hospital for treatment. All were released several hours later and were said to be doing fine.

Similar symptoms began to show in others assisting in other law enforcement officers as well as emergency workers called to the scene. Sgt. Weaver said two detectives, a DTF Agent, and two EMS personnel were all undergoing treatment for exposure.

The Cherokee County Hazardous Materials Team was asked to take samples of the substance. Those samples were sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab Forensics Division for further testing.

Investigators said detectives seized several controlled and banned items during the search warrant process.