Belpre, OH - A forty-five year old Belpre Ohio man was arrested yesterda yafternoon by the Major Crimes Task Force after he was found in possession of fifty packets of bath salts. After observing Michael E. Packard retrieving a small package from his mailbox, Agents executed a search warrant at Packard’s home at 811 Walnut Street. The search warrant resulted in the discovery of forty-nine unopened packets of bath salts and one open packet that Packard may have begun to prepare for consumption. 
     Packard acknowledged receiving the items in the mail but claimed the substance was a glass cleaner and legal in all fifty states.  However, a field test of the powder in the opened packet resulted in a presumptive positive indication for MDPV, the banned substance in bath salts. Packard was subsequently arrested for a second degree felony charge of possession of a bulk amount of MDPV and incarcerated in the Washington County Jail. He remains in jail in lieu of bond pending his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
     Chief Clevenger of the Belpre Police Department said the investigation will continue and further arrests may be forthcoming.
     The Major Crimes Task Force is a multi-faceted organization composed of representatives from the Marietta and Belpre Police Departments; the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, the Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff’s Offices and the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff’s Offices.