Maine Fatal Fire Likely Caused By Inhalants

via http://www.timesrecord.com

The Maine State Fire Marshal's Office revealed that the car fire that proved fatal to a 34-year-old man was likely caused when fumes from an aerosol can were sparked by a cigarette. The man suffered severe facial and manual burns, but managed to walk to neighbor's house to call for help. From there, he was taken to Maine General Medical Center and then to Maine Medical Center, where he died. 

Investigators said that the man was "huffing" from an aerosol can, and found several empty aerosol cans inside the car. They also state that the man was a smoker, and the two factors combined to cause the fatal fire. 

Wisconsin Man Caught Stealing and Huffing Dusters

via http://www.leadertelegram.com

An Eau Claire resident was caught stealing cans of computer cleaner from a local Menards store, and huffing them inside the business. Police were called to the store and found him struggling to maintain his balance and keep his eyes open, signs that he had been abusing the product in the store. He was reported to have stolen as many as 17 two-packs of the dusters, and police found several stolen cans in his vehicle. A $500 cash bail was set for the man, who returns to court March 14. As conditions of bail, he cannot have contact with Menards stores or possess aerosol cans.

South Carolina Woman Caught Huffing Duster in Walmart Bathroom

via http://wspa.com

Spartanburg police were called to the scene at a local Walmart upon receiving reports of "someone spray painting the bathroom with the doors locked". Police arrived to find the suspect passed out on the bathroom floor, surrounded by eight cans of compressed air dusters. Six of the cans were taken from the Walmart. 

When discovered, the suspect had vomited and hit her head while falling inside the restroom. She was taken to the emergency room for immediate care, then booked for Inhalation of Hydrocarbons. 

Utah Driver Huffs Duster, Crashes

via http://www.stgeorgeutah.com
(warning: photos may be graphic to some viewers)

An 18-year-old driver in Utah was found trapped in his vehicle following a crash into a light pole and palm tree. The driver was huffing computer duster while driving and lost consciousness, causing the violent crash. Emergency personnel transported him to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he remains.

New York Man Accused of Stealing and "Huffing" Inhalant

via http://www.buffalo.comhttp://www.buffalonews.com

A 30-year-old Arden man was arrested after being seen taking cans of duster into the bathroom of a local Target store and "huffing" them to get high. According to the Police report, the man was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center for treatment of his pain and disorientation. Following treatment, he was charged with petit larceny, possession of stolen property, criminal mischief, inhalation of toxic vapors, and appearing under the influence in public.

"Huffing" Suspected in Fatal New York Car Accident

via http://wivb.com

A 26-year-old driver was charged with criminally negligent homicide and third degree assault following a car accident that killed a 72-year-old grandmother. The grandmother was survived by her granddaughter in the accident in Depew, NY. Police reports do not specifically detail duster abuse as the cause, but sources familiar with the driver and her habits discuss her duster use being a problem in the past, likely contributing to loss of consciousness while driving. The driver could be facing up to 5 years in prison.

Pennsylvania Woman Huffing on College Campus

via http://www.collegian.psu.edu

Pennsylvania State College Police received reports of a woman in her 50's, not expected to be a student, huffing air duster on a bench outside the campus library. No charges have been filed yet.

Missouri Man Found Huffing Duster in Best Buy Bathroom

via http://www.semissourian.com

"A Ste. Genevieve man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly being found in a Best Buy bathroom in Cape Girardeau, huffing air duster and refusing to leave. 57-year old Michael Dwayne Ruple was charged with misdemeanor possession of a solvent with intent to induce symptoms and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia...Ruple told Becker he was using air duster, he has been huffing for about two months, and he has a history of drug use."

Florida Lobbyist Dies from Inhalant Abuse

via http://floridapolitics.com

Fred Leonhardt, a 65-year old lobbyist, attorney and political fundraiser, passed away in his home from a reported heart attack in October. Autopsy, however, discovered that a heart condition contributed to his death, which led to a final event of cardiac arrhythmia. Ethyl chloride, a compound found in cleaning solvents, was a factor that contributed to the fatal arrhythmia. Police recovered five aerosol bottles of a cleaning solvent and one bottle of nail polish remover, another potentially harmful intoxicant, at the scene. The autopsy also discovered substances in his blood consistent with the chemicals found in the aerosol cleaning solvent, leading to his death being ruled as an accident related to inhalant abuse.  

North Carolina Man Arrested for Huffing at Grocery Store

via http://www.gastongazette.com

A North Carolina man was arrested after tips came in of a suspicious person outside an Aldi grocery store. Employees requested that the man leave, but he did not, and was found outside the store by police. The police officers found two empty cans of computer duster in his backpack. The 34-year-old was arrested on charges of inhaling fumes for purpose of causing intoxication and second-degree trespassing. 

Alabama Man Wrecks Vehicle After Suspected Huffing, Faces DUI Charge

via http://www.dothaneagle.com

A 23-year old man was arrested on suspicion of huffing after crashing into a telephone pole, continuing to drive, crossing opposite lanes of traffic, and ultimately crashing into woods off the road. Witnesses reported seeing the driver throw a small object from the car, which police determined to be a can of computer duster.

“About 5 feet from the vehicle, based on my training, I recognized a canister of compressed air that blows air on your keyboard,” the officer reported. “It’s not necessarily the air that gets you high, it's the propellant that’s used to propel it out of the canister.”The driver was discovered walking in the woods and given a field sobriety test, which led to his arrest for driving under the influence of inhalants. 

Two New York Men Found Unconscious After Huffing

via http://www.wkbw.com

"Batavia Police were called to the Wal-Mart parking lot on Veterans Memorial Drive around 11:30 a.m., where they found Jesse Repass, 29, and Jade Repass, 20, both of Oakfield passed out in a vehicle. Officers say both were huffing fumes from dust cleaner.

Both were charged with inhalation of toxic vapors. Jade was released and is due back in court later this month, while Jesse was taken to the Genesee County Jail on $1,000 bail."

Oregon Woman Arrested Second Time for Driving Under the Influence of Inhalants

via http://www.oregonlive.com

Law enforcement arrested a woman in Oregon for driving under the influence of inhalants, following a hit and run. Witnesses reported that the driver appeared to be struggling to remain conscious. She was taken to the hospital for treatment of inhaling compressed air. This is the woman's third DUI this year, and the second time she was reported driving under the influence of inhalants.

Pennsylvania Police Chief Caught Huffing

via http://www.dailyitem.com

The 41-year-old Mahong Township Police Chief faces court on December 22, postponed from December 3, 2015. The officer was caught huffing from a can of compressed air while on duty back in May of 2015. According to the reports, his eyes fluttered and he was unresponsive, leading other officers to believe he was having a seizure. The officer has been in the police force for 18 years, and with the Mahong Township Police for 5 years.

The officer is on administrative leave without pay, and faces two counts each of sale or illegal use of certain solvents and noxious substances

One Dead, Suspect in Custody in Oklahoma Inhalant-Related Car Crash

via http://www.news9.com

Prior to the car crash that took the life of one driver and injured the suspect, an Oklahoma family called in a tip for police to be on the lookout for a driver, high on keyboard cleaner. Within a few hours, the 25-year-old man drove head-on into traffic on I-44, killing another driver on impact. 

When police arrived, they reported that the drive appeared lethargic, with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. He was arrested on charges of suspected DUI and first-degree manslaughter. 

Los Angeles Student Found Dead After Huffing Inhalant

via http://www.laloyolan.com

A Los Angeles student was found dead in his vehicle. Reports indicated that officers found him in the car, and it appeared he had been huffing, passed out, and suffocated to death. The student was only 18 years old.

Indiana Teen Caught Huffing In Park

via http://www.14news.com/

An Indiana teen was found by police following a report of concern from his mother. Police say they found the empty can of duster in the park and located the teen in front of a home on Briarcliff Parkway.  The 18-year-old was charged with Inhaling Toxic Vapors. 

Pennsylvania Man Charged with Huffing in Public Restroom

via http://www.pennlive.com
"On Monday, officers found Harold Mirabito Jr., 31, of Enola, on the floor of the bathroom at the Subway restaurant along the 400 block of North Enola Road, police said.

Mirabito was 'unresponsive with an aerosol container in his hand and another empty one on the floor. Police found him to be inhaling the container to get high,' according to a news release from the police.

Mirabito has been charged with illegal use of solvents and noxious substances, police said."

Maryland Woman Arrested for Huffing

A 36-year-old Maryland woman was arrested for huffing a harmful substance when a police officer conducted a wellness check. The officer determined the woman to be under the influence of inhalants when he approached her in her parked car. She was arrested for inhaling a harmful substance and two counts of paraphernalia possession.

Ohio Teens Killed in Inhalant-Related Car Crash

via http://wapakdailynews.com
Two teenagers were tragically killed in a car crash in Ohio on November , 2015. A surviving passenger in the car reported that the two boys killed were inhaling an air duster as an intoxicant, leading the driver to crash and end two lives