Tips lead to arrest for bath salts

MATHEWS COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - Deputies said tips generated from a 10 On Your Side story led to the arrest of a Matthews County man in a bath salts case.

According to the Matthews County Sheriff's Office, George Wayne Sharpe, Jr., 26, of Matthews, sold bath salts to undercover agents in a convenience store parking lot in March.

The sheriff's office received tips that Sharpe had fled to Queen Anne's County in Maryland after the 10 On Your Side story aired.

One of the deputies called the drug task force in Queen Anne's County on Thursday, Sept. 29, and they went to the house of one of Sharpe's family members. Tipsters led authorities to the house.

Deputies said Sharpe was not home at the time and no one answered the door.

Drug agents saw marijuana plants growing inside the residence.

As a result, agents got a search warrant and raided the house. They found three marijuana plants valued at $3,000 per plant.

Deputies said Sharpe was not at the house but later turned himself in because of the bust.

He was arrested and charged by authorities in Queen Anne's County.

There is now an extradition process to get him back to Matthews County on the bath salts warrant.

Sharpe also faces charges in Maryland pertaining to the marijuana.

Deputies said Crime Line money will be distributed.

Bath salts are not illegal in Maryland.