You may recall the booking photos from June 12th where a man by the name of Paramijit Sandhu was arrested on suspicion of littering – but the full story is a bit more complex than the simple littering many may have imagined.

Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, says that the accused released hazardous materials in Geary County.

Near the area of Old Stage Rd. and Clarks Creek Rd., the accused is said to have allegedly driven his semi-truck out to the rural area and intentionally released soda lime – a potentially hazardous material into a ditch and part of the roadway.

“[Soda lime] is used in a lot of applications, but the problem is that it should not be mixed with water. We couldn’t leave it on the roadway or especially in the ditch so it would not mix with any water if it rained or was taken downstream; so we contacted a hazardous response team to come out and clean it up,” said Berges.

Berges said the county is now being billed approximately $4000 by the hazardous response team and they are seeking that payment in the form of restitution from the accused through the county court system.

Sandhu allegedly delivered most of the product the day prior in Kansas City. The accused stayed the night in Junction City and is believed to have intentionally dumped the soda lime so his semi-trailer could be empty of all product and he could pick up a different load.