A professor at Radford University who teaches courses on criminal justice finds himself in trouble with the law. The back story is that on December 22, three nights before Christmas, Radford Police received a call that a side door at someone's home on Third Street in Radford was wide open.
Radford University Associate Professor Taj Mahon-Haft lives in that home. Police say on December 22nd a police officer, responding to the "open door'' call, thought there might be a burglary going on. The warrant reads the cop walked upstairs. In one room, he saw a green leafy plant, a quote, "smoking device", and a rolled up dollar bill. The officer also testifies that he saw a razor and a white powdery substance in a line, quote, ''as in preparation for consumption." The officer leaves, then comes back to the home with a search warrant.
The drugs police say they found in the home are on the state's list of regulated synthetic drugs. Many people call them "bath salts."
Mahon-Haft was indicted this past Friday on three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana.
The Radford professor turned himself into police on Monday. I asked if Radford University had any comment on the arrest of one of its professors? The answer was "not right now."
Radford police say Mahon-Haft posted a $5000 bond and walked out of jail. He remains employed by Radford University, and was awarded his bachelors degree from Virginia Tech.
