Man smokes 'Spice', tries to kill dad

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Synthetic drugs appear to be an issue in a case involving an Albuquerque father who says his own son threatened to kill him with a knife.

This is the latest in a string of bizarre cases linked to the use of synthetic drugs in New Mexico and across the country.

Albuquerque police arrested 26-year-old Dale Tenorio Saturday, shortly after they arrived at his family home on the 100 block of General Arnold in northeast Albuquerque.

Tenorio's father said his son had been acting strange lately and that his son threatened to kill him with a knife after the two argued over a family dog.

As officers arrested Tenorio, he admitted that he had been smoking Spice, a form of synthetic marijuana said to have dangerous side effects.

Tenorio appeared before a judge Sunday, charged with aggravated assault on a household member.

He asked the judge to release him because of his job helping others.

“I take care of physically and mentally disabled people that are paralyzed and they're probably just laying in bed right at the moment not knowing that I’m in jail,” Dale Tenorio said.

The judge refused to release Tenorio, instead setting bond at $7,500.

About a month ago, Martha Cantu, 22, was arrested near 2nd Street and Paseo del Norte for allegedly trying to kidnap a 4-year-old boy from his front yard.

She told investigators she was high on Spice at the time.

Those synthetic drugs have been sold in convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops despite laws and other efforts to stop their distribution.

Substance abuse experts say they have the same effects as meth, cocaine, or LSD but they can also spark more unpredictable behavior.

Court records show Dale Tenorio had been arrested on domestic violence charges several years ago.

But the charges were dropped.