Monday, April 09, 2007

Dr. Bronner Strikes Again!

Somehow this seems appropriate to post... Don Bolles, the drummer for The Germs, a band that I love for reasons that I can't even explain, was arrested in Newport, Connecticut after being pulled over for a busted tail light, when police discovered that he was carrying Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Castille Soap. Apparently, the soap contains hemp seed oil and now Bolles faces up to twenty years in jail, although hopefully he will face a judge who has some sense, or at least a sense of humor, and get let off.

5 comments:

Ontario Emperor said...

The original MySpace message was muddied. The actual location of arrest was Newport BEACH, California. Bolles (real name Jimmy Michael Giorsetti) pleaded innocent to possession of a controlled substance and two other charges on April 5, and was released over the weekend. Next court date is April 13.

Greg von Winckel said...

Um. Isn't that soap commercially available in every state? I've seen it for sale in stores in at least a dozen.

Rufus said...

Newport Beach makes a lot more sense!

I can't imagine the charges will stick. Of course, this is not the dumbest story I've heard from the Drug War. But it's up there.

Anonymous said...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Adam Eidinger 1-202-744-2671
April 10, 2007 Email: adam@drbronner.com

“Germ” Wrongly Jailed Over Soap

Absurd GHB Drug Charges for Don Bolles, Drummer of the “The Germs”, Stem From a Bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap Found in Van During Police Stop

ESCONDIDO, CA – The Bronner family, makers of the popular organic Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps are shocked and disturbed by musician Don Bolles’ April 4th arrest for felony drug possession after police alleged an 8oz bottle of peppermint Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap tested positive for the illicit drug GHB (Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate). The notion that anyone would put GHB in a rinse-off liquid soap product is beyond belief, and the police field test used must have been flawed or tampered with. GHB, which produces euphoria and is an alleged aphrodisiac when ingested, of course has absolutely no effect in a soap product that is rinsed off the hands and body.

Mr. Bolles, drummer of the legendary punk band The Germs http://germsreturn.com/, was arrested following a police traffic stop and spent three and half days in various jails in Orange County before being released early Easter morning. During a consented search of Mr. Bolles vintage 1968 A-108 van, Newport Beach police found a bottle of peppermint Dr. Bronner’s soap which is made with organic coconut, olive, hemp, peppermint and jojoba oils. Felony drug possession could mean 20 years in prison if convicted. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 13, 2007 at the Harbor Justice Center, 4601 Jamboree Road Newport Beach, CA at 8:30am.

“I’ve used only Dr. Bronner’s soap for 35 years,” says Mr. Bolles. “I use it for everything - bathing, washing my hair, washing my clothes - it goes everywhere I go. I’m scheduled to go to Europe to tour with The Germs this summer, but these felony charges could keep me from traveling out of the country. This whole thing could be really devastating to a 50 year old guy just trying to make a living. I told the officer ‘its soap, it smells like peppermint soap,’ but he seemed intent on arresting me.”

“It is totally outrageous that the police could be this malicious and idiotic,” says Michael Bronner, Vice-President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “This clearly is a case of profiling by the Newport Beach police of a person who doesn’t look like the people who live in that town. We are paying the cost of Mr. Bolle’s lawyer, and we demand the charges be dropped or proof from the police forensics lab of GHB contamination be immediately provided to us,” said Bronner. Adds brother David Bronner, President: “We cannot imagine anyone putting GHB, or any other drug for that matter, into a rinse-off soap product that is lathered and rinsed off the body immediately. The Newport Beach police should see how much of a buzz putting beer in their shampoo gives them, and get a grip and apologize on their hands and knees to Mr. Bolles.”

At the time of the arrest Mr. Bowles was driving his girlfriend, and fellow musician Cat Scandal to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Newport Beach. “I had heard of GHB but the police had to tell me what it was,” said Bolles. “I’m going to fight these charges.”

To arrange an interview with Don Bolles, Michael Bronner or David Bronner please contact Adam Eidinger at 202-744-2671.

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Rufus said...

It's good to hear that Dr. Bronner's is paying the legal fees.