[Bustfilter] Follow the Pretty Soap Bubbles to the Pokey

April 6, 2007 5:27 PM

Don Bolles arrested for soap possession? Germs drummer Don Bolles likes Dr. Bronner's Soap. Or maybe that should be past tense, as Orange County police have arrested him for drug possession, apparently over the hemp oil in his soap bottle. Friends are rallying to raise his bail, and asking sympathetic souls to spread the word.
posted by Scram (62 comments total)

If the details in this brief description are accurate he should have no problem finding an excellent lawyer in California to take the case pro bono and sue successfully.
posted by well_balanced at 5:33 PM on April 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Are they going to charge him with having a few nanograms or whatever? Knowing the DEA they'll probably try to claim the whole bottle as the weight of the "drugs"
posted by delmoi at 5:38 PM on April 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh okay, he wasn't targeted by the DEA, rather a cop tested the soap and it came up positive for THC. That seems reasonable, since there is no way the police officer could have known that it wasn't really drugs after running the test.

But why does anyone ever allow their cars to be searched by police? I really don't get it.
posted by delmoi at 5:41 PM on April 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

WHAT
THE
FUCKING FUCK
ORANGE COUNTY!?!

Holy crap that place is an unredeemable shithole. I'm so glad I escaped from behind the Orange Curtain. Never again will I live there.
posted by loquacious at 5:42 PM on April 6, 2007

DILUTE! DILUTE!
posted by simonemarie at 5:43 PM on April 6, 2007 [13 favorites]

Heads up Trader Joe's! He's gonna snitch on yo ass!
posted by well_balanced at 5:44 PM on April 6, 2007

(Let's not get too radical here, simone. He probably shoulda just Wet Skin Well! Ok!)
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:46 PM on April 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

I can only assume that the OCPD has a cash surplus since anyone with half a brain would know that they just opened themselves up to a massive lawsuit. Maybe the county will take that into consideration next time the budget is up for review.
posted by lekvar at 5:51 PM on April 6, 2007

Dr. Bronner's Soap drys my skin.
posted by taosbat at 5:51 PM on April 6, 2007

It's all very funny, but people, please note: it's Friday afternoon in California, and Don is an extremely freaky-looking, and very slight, grandpa facing a weekend in the OC jail. I hope Nora and company can get him out!
posted by Scram at 5:52 PM on April 6, 2007

Out of curiosity though, does anybody have a more objective link to this story? Google returns nothing but blog entries and link farms.
posted by lekvar at 5:55 PM on April 6, 2007

LOLDRUGWARRIORZ

but seriously, i mean......jeez.....
posted by Avenger at 5:58 PM on April 6, 2007

I call bullshit. On what planet is this a felony?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 5:58 PM on April 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Slightly off topic--Is he related to the bombed reporter of the same name?
posted by etaoin at 6:02 PM on April 6, 2007

It's all very funny, but people, please note: it's Friday afternoon in California, and Don is an extremely freaky-looking, and very slight, grandpa facing a weekend in the OC jail. I hope Nora and company can get him out!
posted by Scram

Scram, it's a scam:

This past Wednesday night Don Bolles suffered a bizarre and unfortunate interception with the Newport Police Department.

Google news-- Bolles.

posted by taosbat at 6:05 PM on April 6, 2007

This past Wednesday night...
posted by taosbat at 6:08 PM on April 6, 2007

Or did you misspell his name?
posted by taosbat at 6:09 PM on April 6, 2007

taosbat, you think it's a scam because the newsmedia hasn't picked up on a semi-obscure punk drummer being busted on a drug charge less than 48 hours ago? Nora Keyes started the myspace bulletin chain about Don's situation, and I know her as a serious-minded and kind person. I have no reason to believe she would make this up.
posted by Scram at 6:09 PM on April 6, 2007

OK, I'll wait out and see how it goes.

But, I should expect a company like Dr. Bronner's would have something to say about such a situation. And, when I put Bolles Bronner together, I get "Your search - Bolles Bronner - did not match any documents."
posted by taosbat at 6:20 PM on April 6, 2007

I've never tried Bronner's soap, but the labels are amazing. I printed a few off and keep them around to use as an almost platonic example of "insane ranting".

I love those labels. I don't think its possible for anyone to try and read them without putting on the "WTF?!" face and experiencing a moment of utter confusion.
posted by sotonohito at 6:28 PM on April 6, 2007

[the soap] is the only cleaning agent he uses for every thing from tooth paste to laundry detergent.

... as toothpaste?!

Also, would even the dumbest cop suspect that liquid soap is made of drugs? The OC isn't Marrakesh in a Simpsons' retelling of The Monkey's Paw. If this is for real, some lawyer's going to hear about it and burn through a couple pairs of shoes running to the County Jail at superhuman speed.

The appeal for paypal donations trips my scam alarm a tiny bit...
posted by CKmtl at 7:10 PM on April 6, 2007

There is no record of anyone named Bolles in the Orange County jail database, but I don't know if that means anything.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:17 PM on April 6, 2007

If the defendant can't raise $2500 for a bond, why would a lawyer be interested in this case? Just asking...
posted by sexymofo at 7:18 PM on April 6, 2007

Caressing deep, searching, way out of sight; oh beautiful spirit of God's eternal Spring! Heat of passion in a warm moonlit night! Ecstasy to be buried in heaven, within!
now that is some platonic ranting.
posted by hortense at 7:22 PM on April 6, 2007

sexymofo, if the details are accurate, there'll be a nice cash settlement at the end of all this. An ambulance chaser would likely see a cut of that settlement.
posted by lekvar at 7:24 PM on April 6, 2007

Or, a fine, upstanding civil-liberties lawyer could do it pro-bono. [NOT LAWYERCIST]
posted by lekvar at 7:27 PM on April 6, 2007

dirigibleman, Don Bolles is the nom de rock of Sal Mussolino.
posted by Scram at 7:33 PM on April 6, 2007

Did you mean: Mussolini

Your search - Mussolino - did not match any documents.

You say this guy played on a record or something?
posted by taosbat at 7:37 PM on April 6, 2007

Don Bolles is the nom de rock of Sal Mussolino.

Okay, but there's no one in their jail by that name, either.

Again, may not mean anything.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:42 PM on April 6, 2007

Warning! Keep Our of Eyes! Wash Out with Water!
Don't Drink Soap! Dilute! Dilute! or Wet Skin Well! Ok!
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:44 PM on April 6, 2007

The labels are a hoot; but, the soap drys my skin.
posted by taosbat at 7:55 PM on April 6, 2007

Germ's downfall attributed to soap....
posted by Tube at 8:24 PM on April 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

as toothpaste?!

CKmti, you've clearly missed out on seeing those wacky labels sotonohito was talking about. Dr. Bronner's soap is alleged to have limitless useless, including tooth brushing. It's castile soap, so nothing in the ingredients will kill you. But having tried this, gah does it taste nasty. Use only in case of toothbrushing emergency.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 8:34 PM on April 6, 2007

Actually, I find it's pretty good for toothbrushing if you use their peppermint soap and dilute the crap out of it - I use it in a pinch when camping or staying at a hotel, as I keep a small plastic bottle of it in my travel bag.

I really hope this is a hoax, if only to try to give the OC police the benefit of the doubt. This sounds ridiculous on the face of it.
posted by FormlessOne at 8:40 PM on April 6, 2007

nakedcodemonkey: you've clearly missed out on seeing those wacky labels

Yup, never heard of the company before. I tried reading the label sebastienbailard posted... but after a paragraph or two, I was having trouble telling whether or not I was having a stroke, so I stopped.

Even in the case of the peppermint soap, I think I'd rather brush my teeth with a twig.
posted by CKmtl at 8:46 PM on April 6, 2007

But why does anyone ever allow their cars to be searched by police? I really don't get it.

Police will search your car more thoroughly if you don't consent... maybe. I found this page which has some debate on the matter.
posted by bobo123 at 8:57 PM on April 6, 2007

A War on Drugs Story
posted by homunculus at 9:49 PM on April 6, 2007

According to this update his real name is Jimmy Giorsetti, and I was able to locate this booking record at the Orange County site. It doesn't give much (really, any) information so exactly why he was arrested has yet to be determined. I suppose someone could call the number listed on his booking page.

If that's really what he was arrested for, here's hoping the district attorney isn't quite as loony as the police.
posted by dantsea at 10:11 PM on April 6, 2007

Why test the soap anyway...how do you 'deliver' the soap into your body if it was actually drugs? Lather it on?
posted by UseyurBrain at 10:48 PM on April 6, 2007

"But why does anyone ever allow their cars to be searched by police?"

My fav:
"Can I search your vehicle?"
"Do you have the constitutional right to search my vehicle without my consent?"
"...No."
"Do you have any reason to detain me?"

It's sorta the reverse salesman gimmick where you form the question around a 'yes' answer (except here it's 'no').
Basic mental judo for the ingrained 'establish authority' training. The officer gets to say 'no,' but you still get to leave.

Doesn't work on Chicago cops. Friggin PBA cards and officer courtesy doesn't work (or, actually works in reverse) for Chicago cops.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:22 AM on April 7, 2007

more info here.
controlled substance, contempt, and violation of a protective order. that seems deeper than possession of dr. bronners.
posted by casconed at 12:22 AM on April 7, 2007

Don Bolles autographed my copy of (GI) on behalf of Darby R.I.P. some 20 years ago. The strange three days we spent together - he had lost his band at the time, 45 Grave, and ended up crashing in my dorm room - are pure rock gold.

Get out soon, stay safe.
posted by mwhybark at 2:15 AM on April 7, 2007

Nothin' cops hate worse than a clean hippie. Seriously though, I'm waiting on more news until I cast judgment.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:22 AM on April 7, 2007

"Dr. Bronner's Soap drys my skin.
posted by taosbat at 8:51 PM on April 6"

"The labels are a hoot; but, the soap drys my skin.
posted by taosbat at 10:55 PM on April 6"

It's "dries".
posted by Eideteker at 5:23 AM on April 7, 2007

But why does anyone ever allow their cars to be searched by police? I really don't get it.
Well, I'd say the most obvious answer is that people have been, by and large, trained to want to be a "good citizen" and help the police.

Then there's the whole "if you've done nothing wrong, what do you have to fear?" train of thought (espoused by several here at MeFi.

Personally, I think most people allow the searches because they want to avoid whatever power-trip smackdown would befall them if they said "no" to the police. It's hard to explain the constitution to a phalanx of 9-mm-toting hard-asses when they have have you down on the pavement with their knees on your neck for "acting suspiciously".
posted by Thorzdad at 5:24 AM on April 7, 2007

I seem to recall Rehnquist saying something along the lines of, "Why was the defendant stopped?"
"For speeding."
"What furthur evidence of speeding did you expect to find in the trunk?"

But those were better days.
posted by well_balanced at 6:17 AM on April 7, 2007

But why does anyone ever allow their cars to be searched by police? I really don't get it.
Because sometimes police disregard the rights of ordinary citizens, even if we know and state those rights to them.
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 7:07 AM on April 7, 2007

dries...quite correct.
posted by taosbat at 7:19 AM on April 7, 2007

A War on Drugs Story

Addiction is still way too often seen as a "sin" or "moral shortcoming" , but it seems clear to many who ever had any addiction (smoking, drinking being common ones..I smoked like a chimney for 10 years) that nobody wants to remain addicted ( except self destructive individuals)

Drugs aren't always consumed for hedonistic, pleasure seeking purposes , but sometimes are used as painkillers.

Abuse of painkillers is certainly undesiderable, but rarely is the abuser seen _also_ as the victim ; moralistic brigades are happy to decry them as low lifes, lazy, menaces to society, convenient weak enemies.

I am not really surprised to see that some cop generalizes and considers any addiction or possession of controlled substance as intolerable crimes...because cops are first and foremost human beings, so if you keep on suggesting them that ALL _addiction_ are caused by hedonistic, highly egoistical morals , some cop will seek convenient revenge against these "subhumans".
posted by elpapacito at 7:35 AM on April 7, 2007

I don't think Bolles was ever in the Subhumans.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:59 AM on April 7, 2007

Booking Number 2379681
Inmate Name: Giorsetti, Jimmy Michael
Arrested on: 04-04-2007 at 18:47
Custody Status: In Custody
Bail Amount: Ineligible (was $25,000 earlier today -ryanrs)

Case Number 07HF0678
Violation date: 04/04/2007
11377(a) HS (felony) Possession of a controlled substance
166(a)(4) PC (mis) Contempt of court - disobey court order
166(c)(1) PC (mis) Violation of protective/stay away order

Hearings:
04/05/2007 01:30 PM Arraignment (heard)
04/13/2007 08:30 AM Pre Trial
04/17/2007 08:30 AM Preliminary Hearing


I suspect Nora's myspace post is not a complete and accurate account of the events in question. Not that I blame her; the drug war has made good and honest people fear the truth. That said, none of Mr. Bolles three charges appear to be soap-related.

If I had to guess, I would say Mr. Bolles was arrested for violating a restraining order. Likely it was a very serious violation, perhaps he threatened the other party. During his arrest some meth was discovered. It was found either on his person or in his car (but not in his soap).

That's my theorybaseless bullshit. I expect it's about as accurate as Nora's BS and the cops' BS. Hopefully things will work out for Don.
posted by ryanrs at 2:18 AM on April 8, 2007

Looks like he's out. I suppose the jail database said he was ineligible for bail because his bail had already been posted. (For fuck's sake. If I wanted obtuse customer service, I would've simply called and asked to speak to a jailor).

In light of this new info, I'm downgrading the restraining order violation from "serious" to "minor". I maintain the drug charge is for meth, not soap. PC 1000 will rinse it off his record.
posted by ryanrs at 3:41 AM on April 8, 2007

Heard third hand tonight that Don is free, and Dr. Bronner's has agreed to assist with his defense. Also, it seems the soap was assumed to be GHB, which was why a liquid was run through a drug test. Pretty wacky. Should be an interesting story once it all comes out.
posted by Scram at 11:23 PM on April 8, 2007

A few weeks before 4th of July last year Don was also arrested for some complicated "misunderstanding" involving charges of domestic abuse. Maybe that has something to do with violating a court order and "stay-away" order. When I first heard this story, I thought it was awful strange that he would be accidentally arrested twice in the same year.

As for the comments about "allowing" cops to search your car, I was once stopped on the way to our car because we came out of a house where punks lived. The cops wanted to search the car, which we were not even driving yet. When he asked to search my purse, I asked one officer what his probably cause was. He threw my purse into the middle of the busy street, where it was repeatedly run over and all of its contents were smashed. He then screamed in my face that he was going to personally show up at my door to f#@% with me every day for the rest of my life.
posted by Kiki Maraschino at 3:15 AM on April 9, 2007

So Kiki, did he?
posted by Floydd at 1:52 PM on April 9, 2007

I think the OC cops are equating "hemp oil" with "has(ish) oil"; are they the same? Even if they are, how in the fuck could anybody get high on soap, given all the other ingredients that make it "soap" instead of "mixed oils"? As a teenager I might've tried soaking parsley flakes in it and smoking that, but now I think that'd just make a person very unwell. Could someone extract the hemp oil back out of the soap?
posted by davy at 9:50 PM on April 9, 2007

Possibly, but it wouldn't do a damned thing for them besides giving them a headache. Industrial hemp has meager amounts of THC, and hemp oil is nothing at all like hash oil.
posted by lekvar at 10:11 PM on April 9, 2007

Now my search matches plenty of documents. I hope he sues their pants off:

Punk rocker caught in soap opera
The drummer is jailed in O.C. because his bottle of cleanser allegedly contained a drug. The manufacturer joins the fight.
By Roy Rivenburg, LATimes Staff Writer
April 11, 2007

Was a legendary punk rocker arrested for possession of … soap?

That's the question surrounding last week's jailing of Germs drummer Don Bolles after a traffic stop in Newport Beach.

Bolles, 50, whose real name is Jimmy Michael Giorsetti, said in an interview that he and his girlfriend were driving to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting Wednesday evening when police pulled over his 1968 Dodge van for a broken taillight.

Inside the vehicle, police found a toiletry kit containing denture glue, razors and a bottle of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap.

When a field test of the alleged liquid peppermint soap indicated it was GHB, a date-rape drug, Bolles was arrested on suspicion of felony narcotics possession, said Sgt. Evan Sailor of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Bolles insisted the soap was only soap. "I've been using Dr. Bronner's for 35 years," he said Tuesday, adding that the organic ingredients help give him the complexion of a 15-year-old girl.

Executives at Dr. Bronner's rushed to Bolles' defense, hiring attorney Bruce Margolin, who specializes in marijuana cases, to represent the musician.

The alliance between Germs and the soap manufacturer followed an Internet plea to help bail Bolles out of jail. A musician from one of his other bands, Fancy Space People, set up a PayPal account to raise the $2,500 bond.

Bolles, who lives in Huntington Park, was released Sunday. "The Newport Beach jail was the nicest one I've ever been in," he said. But Bolles spent just one night there before being moved to two county jails he described as "terrifying."

The Germs, a trailblazing punk ban formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, are credited with influencing generations of musicians and popularizing mohawks. Bolles took his name from Arizona Republic journalist Don Bolles, who was killed in 1976 by a car bomb while investigating corruption.

The band broke up in 1980 after their 24-year-old singer, Darby Crash, committed suicide. The Germs reunited in 2005.

As word of the punk rocker's arrest spread online, Dr. Bronner's switchboard lighted up with calls. After speaking with Bolles on Monday, company President David Bronner decided to intervene.

The Escondido-based soap maker is used to run-ins with the law. Because the ingredient list for Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap includes hemp oil, police field tests of the soap occasionally indicate THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, Bronner said.

But the idea of finding GHB in a Dr. Bronner's product is "beyond belief," Bronner said. "The field test must have been flawed or tampered with."

Is it possible Bolles was using the soap bottle to carry the drug?

No way, Bronner said. With a definitive test of the bottle's contents coming soon from the Orange County Crime Lab, "it would be ridiculous for Bolles to be lying," Bronner said.

Bolles, a onetime heroin addict who is scheduled to play a London concert with the Germs in August, likewise dismissed the idea that he would carry GHB. "A date-rape drug is the last thing I need," he said. "If anything, I need a way to keep the girls off of me. They make my girlfriend mad."
posted by taosbat at 12:40 PM on April 11, 2007

Good job keeping up on this story, taosbat.

I'm a little alarmed at reading "Germs drummer" and "denture glue" in the same article. I know we're all getting older, but c'mon!
posted by lekvar at 5:16 PM on April 11, 2007

Thanks, lekvar, and, Scram:

Wow! That turned out to be mostly true. I am so fucking astonished! I hope he gets money for a decent "golden age."

Junkies and alcoholics often don't get the best dental care and boozing is pretty hard on your teeth.
posted by taosbat at 9:04 PM on April 11, 2007

mmmmm...hash oil...I've seen it make big strong men pee their pants.
posted by taosbat at 10:22 PM on April 11, 2007

KCRW (a Santa Monica radio station) just reportd that all charges agains Bolles were dropped. Yay!
posted by lekvar at 5:07 PM on April 17, 2007