Man arrested for huffing Freon

Sarasota, Florida -- Police in Sarasota have arrested a man accused of getting high by huffing Freon from an AC unit.

Officers were called to the 1100 block of Villagio Circle Wednesday morning to investigate a report of a suspicious man lying on the ground near the air conditioning units.

Officers located the man and found him to be very unstable on his feet and uncoordinated in manner.

The man, 40-year-old Timothy Alan Bennett, told the officers that he was fixing the air conditioner. Further investigation by the officers revealed a hose attached to an outlet on the unit which released the A/C refrigerant Freon.

The officers eventually found that the subject had been stealing the Freon from the units by inhaling it. He told police that it made him “high”.

The area was further inspected and it was discovered that a total of 31 A/C units were empty of Freon. Replacement cost of Freon is approx. $100 per unit.

Bennett was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and inhalation of a harmful chemical substance.