Man tells police Flakka was ‘eating him up’

Jason David Blevins allegedly can from police trying to avoid arrest on May 23.

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies say a Keavy man that crossed the Cumberland Gap Pkwy. while attempting to elude capture Tuesday morning said he was under the influence of “FLAKKA.”

Thirty-two-year-old Jason David Blevins was arrested after running from the Pilot truck stop to the Spur Oil gas station as Deputy Gary Mehler gave chase.

“His (Blevins) eyes were extremely dilated, he was disoriented, talking very fast and jumping from subject to subject, was observed talking to himself, jerking his head randomly, and overall acting very strangely saying his skin was burning,” Mehler wrote in the arrest citation. “He stated he was ‘high’ but people had put drugs in his coffee. He said people had rubbed Flakka on him and it was ‘eating him up.’”

Flakka, also known as “Gravel,” is a form of bath salts that causes excited deliriums, paranoia and hallucinations, according to DrugFree.org.

In addition, it is known to raise a person’s body temperature.

Mehler stated that he was investigating a complaint at the truck stop of an individual breaking into trailers when he saw an individual, later identified as Blevins, walking between two tractor trailers and carrying a black backpack.

Mehler stated that when he announced to the suspect that he was a sheriff’s deputy and that he needed to speak with him, the individual looked over his shoulder for a moment before attempting to flee.

Mehler gave chase down the access road near the Huddle House and truck wash and across the road to the Spur.

“While chasing him (Blevins) on the access road, he threw the backpack to the ground as he was running from me,” Mehler stated.

Mehler said Blevins ran inside the store and was cornered in the gaming room.

“I was able to order him to the ground at taser point and place him under arrest,” Mehler stated.

Mehler reported finding four hypodermic needles in Blevins’ pocket and a small baggie of suspected crystal methamphetamine in his wallet.

In addition, Mehler recovered two smart phone cases, three earbud headsets and a locking personal storage container that a Pilot employee identified as being taken from the store.

Blevins was charged with theft by unlawful taking of the value under $500 – shoplifting, public intoxication – controlled substance, second-degree fleeing or evading police – on foot, second-degree disorderly conduct, first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Blevins was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Facility where he is being held without bond.