Red Deer City RCMP seized quantities of date rape drugs and methamphetamine during a search of a city residence on Thursday.
Members of the Red Deer City RCMP Street Team and Organized Crime Unit executed the search warrant and arrested a resident at his home.
Police found various quantities of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as GHB, and ketamine. Both are referred to as date rape drugs commonly used to assist in sexual assault.
GHB seized was a clear liquid that is virtually tasteless. These drugs are often used in night clubs where someone slips a dose into an unattended drink.
GHB takes about 15 minutes to take effect. Symptoms, that can last three to four hours, include drowsiness, blackouts, dream-like feeling, problems seeing, and memory loss while drugged.
Ketamine is very fast acting and symptoms include out-of-body experiences, feeling out of control, impaired motor function, and loss of coordination.
To avoid being a victim RCMP warn:
• Do not accept drinks from other people.
• Go out with a group of friends to look out for each other and always leave with the same friends.
• Never leave your drink unattended. If you have left it alone, do not finish it.
• Seek help right away if you feel drunker than you should for the amount of alcohol you have consumed.
• Alert the staff or call the police right away if you see someone put something into a drink.
RCMP charged Marty Dickson, 30, of Red Deer with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of property obtained by crime, and three counts of fail to comply with recognizance.
Dickson was taken into custody and scheduled to appear in Red Deer Provincial Court today.