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WILKES-BARRE — City police cited James Matthew Bramich three times in four days on charges he was under the influence of spice in public.

Throw in a fourth offense in July, Bramich, 26, of Butler Street, Wilkes-Barre, is becoming a routine name in police news releases and court filings.

Bramich and many others since the weekend have been found by police under the influence of synthetic marijuana, commonly called “spice,” with most in the vicinity of Public Square. Most have been taken to a hospital due to their degree of intoxication.

The substance is illegal under the state’s “blanket law,” enacted in 2011.

A review of police releases indicate 23 people have been cited with public drunkenness when found under the influence of synthetic marijuana or other controlled substances in the past week. Some were repeat offenders, such as Bramich.

The sudden surge of synthetic overdoses has Police Chief Robert Hughes concerned.

Hughes said Wednesday the problem is widespread in other states along the East Coast with people overdosing on synthetic marijuana. He said the police department’s tactical patrol unit has been assigned to find out where and who is supplying the synthetic drug to users.

Hughes compared the recent concern of synthetic marijuana overdoses to the bath salts epidemic a few years ago.

Like bath salts, synthetic marijuana can cause hallucinations, psychotic episodes, severe agitation and anxiety, vomiting, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure and seizures, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Synthetic marijuana is sold in packets marketed as K2, Scooby Snax, Xtreme, Hulk and Deadman. Each packet can sell for $1.75 to $5, a cheap alternative to smoking marijuana.

An ounce of high-grade marijuana is $250 to $300 in the Wilkes-Barre area and is brought in from California and Colorado, where it is legal for medical purposes, said a local undercover narcotics detective. A pound of marijuana in those two states sells for $500 to $1,000 but can sell for $3,800 a pound in Pennsylvania.

<strong>Spice misconception</strong>

Hughes said parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of illegal drugs, especially the misconception that synthetic marijuana is safer than marijuana.

Synthetic marijuana is made from dried, shredded plant material such as basil and oregano and sprayed with chemical additives, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports.

Bramich was transported to a local hospital in each of the three times was found to have been under the influence of synthetic marijuana, police reports say.

Police spotted Bramich at 9:12 a.m. Tuesday staggering on a sidewalk at Public Square and South Main Street.

About 17 hours earlier at 4:46 p.m. Monday, police encountered Bramich sitting on a wall and drooling on South Washington Street.

Then on Saturday, police spotted Bramich with one foot on the roadway and the other on the sidewalk as if he was about to cross North River Street near the Luzerne County Courthouse at 8:10 a.m. Minutes later as the same officer passed, Bramich was found in the same position, according to court records.

Bramich was unresponsive and standing still with his eyes closed and a suspected spice cigarette stuck to his lower lip. He allegedly stayed in the same position for about 15 minutes before paramedics arrived, police said.

Police learned Bramich had been at Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital overnight for an earlier overdose, medically cleared and given back his spice, police said.

On July 13, Bramich was allegedly found under the influence of marijuana outside Dunkin’ Donuts at Public Square and South Main Street. Bramich claimed he smoked real marijuana and denied he smoked the synthetic substance, according to the criminal complaint.

A police officer was stuck with an open blade knife Bramich had in his pocket, the complaint says.

Other reports of people being cited by police in recent days:

<strong>Aug. 4, 1:28 p.m:</strong> Amanda Reyes, 26, of Carbondale, and Alysia Renee Snyder, 24, of Wilkes-Barre, were allegedly found under the influence of synthetic marijuana on South Main Street.

<strong>Aug. 4, 10:55 a.m:</strong> Marvin Calk, 31, of Wilkes-Barre, was allegedly found staggering while walking on Public Square nearly falling into traffic. Calk was allegedly in possession of synthetic marijuana.

<strong>Aug. 4, 10:09 a.m:</strong> Gerald Hotchkiss, 35, of Swoyersville, was allegedly found under the influence of a chemical substance on Public Square.

<strong>Aug. 3, 10:30 p.m:</strong> Amanda Reyes, 26, Alisha Snyder, 23, of Wilkes-Barre, Jeremy Roper, 45, of Wilkes-Barre, and Neil Kearns, 51, homeless, were allegedly found under the influence of alcohol and spice in the area of South Franklin and West Market streets. They were transported to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3, 7:06 p.m:</strong> Joseph Thompson, 28, of Hanover Township, was allegedly found impaired sitting on a bench near Midtown Village, South Main Street. Thompson was transported to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3, 5:53 p.m:</strong> Danelle Herring, 32, of Glen Lyon, and Solomon Vanbrunt, 23, of Wilkes-Barre, were allegedly found with spice, a syringe and empty heroin packets in the area of South Washington and Northampton streets.

<strong>Aug. 3, 5:30 p.m:</strong> Brian Alvin Yagalla, 46, of Freeland, and Jose Luis Sanchez, 34, of Plymouth, were allegedly found under the influence of synthetic marijuana on South Main Street.

<strong>Aug. 3, 2:52 p.m:</strong> Gerald Hotchkiss, 35, of Swoyersville, was allegedly found under the influence of an unknown drug when he was spotted leaning against a utility pole at South Franklin and West Market street. He was transported to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3, 2:25 p.m:</strong> Michelle Lynn Shotwell, 21, of Luzerne, Amanda Wolfe, 27, of Dupont, and George Stritzinger, 36, of Wilkes-Barre, were allegedly found under the influence of synthetic marijuana under the Market Street Bridge. They were transported to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3: 2:25 p.m:</strong> Cecelia Hemphrey, 25, of Wilkes-Barre, was allegedly found under the influence of synthetic marijuana on South Main Street. She was taken to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3, 12:50 p.m:</strong> Justin D. Curet, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, was allegedly found staggering along Riverside Drive. Police allege Curet was under the influence of a chemical substance.

<strong>Aug. 3, 10:45 a.m:</strong> Joseph Thompson, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, was found sleeping in bushes on South Franklin Street. Thompson allegedly told police he smoked spice and wanted to sleep. He was transported to a local medical facility.

<strong>Aug. 3, 12:02 a.m:</strong> Gerald Hotchkiss, 35, of Swoyersville, was found standing still with his arms out at his sides while bobbing his head on Public Square. Hotchkiss allegedly told police he smoked spice. He was transported to a local medical facility.
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL080615Spice3.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre police and emergency medical technicians assist a woman reported under the influence of spice at the Intermodal Parking Garage on South Washington Street on Wednesday afternoon.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL080615Spice3.jpgWilkes-Barre police and emergency medical technicians assist a woman reported under the influence of spice at the Intermodal Parking Garage on South Washington Street on Wednesday afternoon. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">W-B has seen a number of incidents related to synthetic marijuana</div>
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By Ed Lewis

elewis@www.timesleader.com

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Reach Ed Lewis at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TLEdLewis

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Recent surge in number of ‘spice’ overdoses in Wilkes-Barre has police chief concerned