Hair test comes back positive for methamphetamine

Small amount found in search of his residence

A homeless person stands motionless on Tenderloin Street in San Francisco, California, appearing to be under the influence of drugs. The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article. (Yonhap)
A homeless person stands motionless on Tenderloin Street in San Francisco, California, appearing to be under the influence of drugs. The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article. (Yonhap)

A man in his 30s, seen in a viral video staggering down a Suwon street like "a zombie," drew suspicion of drug use. He has been placed under detention two months after the case came to light.

According to Yonhap, Choi Yoo-shin, the chief judge in charge of warrants at Suwon District Court, held a pretrial detention hearing Wednesday for the man, identified only as A. He faces charges of violating the Act on the Control of Narcotics, and the judge issued an arrest warrant.

Judge Choi cited "a risk of evidence tampering" as the grounds for issuing the warrant.

A is accused of possessing a small amount of methamphetamine at his residence and of taking psychotropic drugs given to him by an acquaintance.

A first came under suspicion of drug use after a video circulated on June 22 showing him staggering near a bus stop in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, with his back hunched and his arms hanging limply.

The following day, June 23, he tested positive for methamphetamine in a preliminary field test and was arrested on emergency grounds. He was released after a urine test came back negative. A subsequent detailed hair analysis by the National Forensic Service came back positive again, and he has since been investigated by police without being detained.

Police uncovered additional charges after finding a small amount of methamphetamine during a search and seizure of his residence on July 6. Following further investigation, they applied for a pretrial arrest warrant on Friday.

Controversy arose over a "shoddy investigation" after it emerged that police had failed to carry out an emergency search and seizure, which can be conducted without a warrant on the day of an emergency arrest. Instead, police launched a forcible investigation more than 10 days after his release.

Police have yet to determine when, where or how A obtained and used methamphetamine, so the arrest warrant currently applies only to the "possession of methamphetamine" charge confirmed so far.

A has denied some of the charges against him, including the allegation that he used methamphetamine.

Police plan to continue a supplementary investigation into additional charges against A, who is now in detention.


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