Radford professor arrested on drug charges - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Radford University Professor Dr. Taj Mahon-Haft is charged with possession of synthetic drugs and marijuana.

According to a search warrant, Radford police found bath salts inside his home in December of 2012. The professor told police he planned to use them for a research project. Dr. Mahon-Haft has been teaching criminal justice at Radford University since 2011, according to university records.

Radford police say it all started when a neighbor called, saying the side door at the professor's home was open. They were worried it might be a burglar. Inside police found marijuana, a rolled up dollar bill and a line of white powder laid out on a flat surface. Court papers say the powder turned out to be bath salts, and that police actually found three different kinds of bath salts in Mahon-Haft's home.

A Radford University spokesman said the university does not comment on personnel matters. Mahon-Haft's bio page reads that his research efforts are focused, in part, on drugs and drug policy. Mahon-Haft teaches three introduction to criminal justice classes two times per week. He also leads a seminar in Roanoke on Wednesdays titled "War on Drugs."