People looking for a quick high get arrested for smoking pot, for snorting cocaine or smoking crack or popping meth. Rarely are they arrested for inhaling chemicals. Even more rarely for doing so very publicly, in front of copious eyes and surveillance cameras.
Tuesday evening, Gretchen Wentworth, 35, and David Collins, 34, residents of 609 North Ocean Shore Boulevard in Flagler Beach, were arrested for inhaling cool whip. That is, the nitrous oxide that powers the cream out of its canister. They were arrested for allegedly doing so at the Flagler Beach Publix, after they’d aggravated other customers.
A Flagler Beach Police officer was dispatched to the store off of State Road 100 just before 7 p.m. on a verbal disturbance call. The store manager told the cop that he and other staffers had been watching Collins and Wentworth “walk through the store arguing with other customers,” according to the pair’s arrest reports. The manager said the two “took possession of cool whip from the shelves and began to inhale the propellant chemical.”
Collins and Wentworth paid for the merchandise, and told the cop as much. “Both subjects appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance,” the arrest report states, referring to cool whip propellant.
Many states, including Florida, ban the sale and use of nitrous oxide outside of controlled environments such as dental offices. Using nitrous oxide is a second-degree misdemeanor (which bumps up to a third-degree felony for sale or possession of more than 16 grams of nitrous oxide).
Both Collins and Wentworth, their arrest report states, “displayed glassy eyes, slurred speech and had a difficult time maintaining their balance.” Once outside the store, the cop got tgheir identification and found out that they both had outstanding warrants in Michigan “for failure to appear for narcotics charges.”
They were booked at the Flagler County jail. Wentworth was released on her own recognizance. Collins was released on $500 bond.
Florida Native. says
Inhaling that devil’s brew Kool-Whip. That should draw at least,let’s see….the death penalty? It’s stupid but you can’t legislate stupidity. It’s just Darwin’s Law at work. You can’t protect people from themselves….Keep sniffing.
Charles Ericksen Jr says
No wonder , pie with Cool Whip tastes extra good…But up the nose is a new one to me..
Anonymous says
How do you comment on something like this?
B420 says
last I checked cool whip came in a tub not a spray container. smart to pay for it, not smart to do it in the store, at least wait till your in the car.
NortonSmitty says
In my day, they were called “Whippets” for inhaling Laughing Gas from the whipped cream canisters at TGI Fridays. It was on of the few perks you got slaving away to earn tuition by eating shit serving the masses. I see they were accused of being Anally Extravagant with the other customers, but they paid for the Kool Whip at the register.
So how in the hell can you arrest them for using nitrous oxide as a second-degree misdemeanor and not charge Publix for a third-degree felony for sale or possession of more than 16 grams of nitrous oxide? Hell I could represent them in court and get them off, along with a false arrest charge on FSO and a civil suit against Publix. And I would do it for whatever gas they got left in the can.
w.ryan says
Locked up for getting whipped on cool whip? What? What are the Cops sniffing? Norton Smitty…you’re on the money!!! Taking this further, what about distribution charges to Publix and the manufacturer? Why don’t they put a bitterent in the product? That’ll stop the illegal use of Cool Whip!
well... says
Isn’t it about time us citizens stand up for removal of this gateway drug once and for all? Pffft…wait…sorry what was I saying…whip it, whip it good. I worry more about the Jesus knockers than a couple of “whipper-snappers”.
Steve Wolfe says
Hmmm…35 and 34 years old. And when exactly were you planning to grow up? Hopefully you two have no responsibility for anyone but yourselves. But at least become responsible for SOMETHING. Or go back to Michigan and be useless up there. Maybe the cold will wake you two dummies up.
Concerned says
Geez Louise…what next?
dlf says
Proves my point; the gene pool is getting smaller.
scooby don't says
I don’t think it was Cool Whip they were inhaling. I believe it’s called Redi-Whip. I could only imagine that inhaling Cool Whip could be quite messy and uncomfortable to the nasal passages! Seems like a nice couple.
rhweir says
Back in the day, Grateful Dead concerts, parking lot, vendors, nitrous tanks, balloons, lots of laughs and a splitting headache. A long time ago now. But, whipped cream containers in Publix? Now, that’s messed up.
Whippy Creamy says
Does Palm Coast Sheriff Department now have a ” Whippit ” swat team ?
Special Whippits And Tactical Unit…..How much more money is this going to cost us. Will they be buying used TANKS from Afganistan to roll into the Puplix parking lots to hold the “whippits” bandits at bay !
LMAO
FB citizen says
you can try to justify this all you want…regardless, it is illegal in the state of Florida to use inhalants as an intoxicant. Continue trying to find the shades of gray, but it is very black and white…
Mike says
Quick! Alert the Drug army!!!! TAKE ALL WHIPPED CREAM OFF THE MARKET NOW!!!! It’s a gateway drug.
After reading about these two winners and the equally awesome (hear the sarcasm) response to their evil deeds… everyone here needs to rent the movie Idiocracy. Comedy or not, we’re really moving in this direction! Electrolytes anyone?
THE VOICE OF REASON says
I think that was probably Reddi-Whip they were inhaling. That’s the stuff that comes in a canister with propellant. I’ve only ever seen Cool Whip in those tubs that everybody saves to store leftovers.
THE VOICE OF REASON says
My inhalant of choice is Pam.
The vegetable oil keeps everything lubricated and makes it easier to grab those hard-to-reach boogers.
wake up says
SEE THAT FLAGLER BEACH…EVEN YOU GUYS HAVE BAD PEOPLE..LOL
Anonymous says
if they paid for the stuff and did itat home all would be fine with me. BUt it seems they where also disturbing others and doing this while still in the store so then lock em up. BUT what really gets me is that they both had outstanding warents and one was let go??? what the hell is wrong with the cops on that one lock them both up and ship their sorry buts back!!!!
Seminole Pride says
Why does our county get all the losers ?
A.S.F. says
Huffing and sniffing–It damages the brain, people. Keep making jokes. Our young people do this stuff all the time. It’s easy access.
NortonSmitty says
Thanks. We all know the only legitimate uses for Kool Whip is clogging arteries and occasionally as a lubricant. Anything else violates traditional community standards.
NortonSmitty says
And shallower.
NortonSmitty says
Thanks for the reminder. For a second there we lost our heads and were having fun with this obvious community tragedy. Forgive us, it won’t happen again.
NortonSmitty says
Sarcastically. Easily.
Steve Smith says
I don’t understand how you can bail out of jail if your a fugiative from justice in another state
Concerned says
Because most states won’t pay to extradite unless it’s a big charge they are wanted for.