A Houston dentist and university professor was arrested once again, this time with over 100 nitrous oxide canisters in his car, police said.
Christopher Pedlar, 39, was taken into custody Sunday night after officers pulled him over in The Heights. Pedlar initially refused to stop and continued driving for half a mile before pulling over.
When officers checked his car, they found 107 canisters of nitrous oxide—one still attached to a mask and reportedly ice-cold, indicating recent use, police said.
"When they questioned him, he admitted to inhaling the gas," a hearing officer stated per local news. "The defendant told the officer he has a problem and had been using it all day."
This marks Pedlar's third arrest since October on charges related to nitrous oxide possession. In one previous incident, he was found with 112 canisters in his car. His first recorded offense involving the gas dates back to 2017.
"Something could have happened. Thankfully, it didn't," an officer said.
Though Pedlar was a full-time professor at UTHealth School of Dentistry-Houston, his profile was removed from the university's website by Monday night. The school has not yet commented on his employment status.
Pedlar, who has held a Texas dental license since 2012, is facing multiple misdemeanor charges: two counts of possession of a volatile chemical, fleeing a police officer, interfering with a public servant, and possession of inhalant paraphernalia.
He was released on bonds totaling $10,000. Authorities are now investigating the source of his nitrous oxide supply.
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