Community Corner

Tobacco Leaf Owners to be Charged

The owners of a State Street tobacco shop will face charges after a June raid in which drug paraphernalia and synthetic marijuana was seized, Northampton Township police said.

Nothampton Detective Bill Klein said Monday charges against the Tobacco Leaf are pending. The shop is still open.

Northampton Township police raided the Tobacco Leaf June 26 after an undercover investigation revealed the shop was selling synthetic “spices” to juveniles, according to Klein.

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Police from Northampton, assisted by Newtown Borough Police, seized about $10,000 worth of drug paraphernalia from the Tobacco Leaf.

Police got a search warrant for the raid after they determined the business was selling drug paraphernalia and synthetic “spices” to juveniles from Northampton Township, police said.

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According to police, the "spices" are synthetic marijuana.

During the raid, law enforcement officials seized various paraphernalia, including 177 pipes, 21 grinders, 70 scales and approximately 300 packages of an assortment of spices, Klein said.

Prices for the spices were $20 to $40 and were called Orgasmo, Bizarro and Funky Monkey, among other names, police said.

When customers paid for the spices, the money was placed in a separate area, not in the register, police said.

Police said during their undercover investigation, officers witnessed juveniles under the influence who would purchase spices.

Holland resident Deborah Kiernicki was arrested in conjunction with the investigation, police said. According to police, Kiernicki would drive teens to the Tobacco Leaf, purchase spices for them and allow them to smoke the spices at her home. Police said she also bought beer for the teens.

She has been charged with corrupting the morals of a minor and providing alcohol to minors, police said.


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