News & Articles

Duluth Police Raid Last Place on Earth a Third Time

At 2:20 p.m. the Reader received a tip that federal agents would be heading yet another raid on the Last Place on Earth.  The Duluth head shop located on Superior St. has been the cause of much debate and controversy over their sale of synthetic drugs that are sold as incense and many in the city deem the customers who hang out around the store a public nuisance. With each raid, Police and federal law enforcement agencies including the DEA and ATF have worked together to execute the raids.
At 2:25 p.m., things seemed to be business as usual at the shop. A long line of customers were wrapped around the store's interior and two officers were at their posts by the store. Officers have been watching the block during LPOE's operating hours at the cost to store owner Jim Carlson ever since the last raid in December. At 2:30 p.m. a group of around 20 officers, both uniformed and in plain clothes walked over Superior St. and entered the store. At the same time around half a dozen squad cars rolled up and set up a perimeter around it's entrance. Most of the customers were allowed to leave, while several were detained. According to Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, this raid was implemented by just the Duluth Police Department. "They're still selling illegal drugs," said Ramsay about the raid. According to Ramsay BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) scientists have deemed that the chemicals in Carlson's products are illegal. Barack Obama signed federal legislation banning synthetic drugs in July 2012 and Minnesota state laws have been getting increasingly tighter on the issue.
Jim Carlson was arrested at 3 p.m. and stated "The Nazis got me again" as he was led out of the store.