If This Delray Woman Is Your Nitrous Oxide Dealer, You May Need Another
BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton woman allegedly found with a number of open Nitrous Oxide canisters in her car — and appearing to be under the influence of something — was jailed by Boca Raton Police early Friday morning. Giovanna Lorusso Busse is now facing a charge of "controlled substance — sell/distirbute nitrous oxide 16 grams or more." Here's what police say happened in an arrest report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com .
"On 10/31/2024 at approximately 2223 hours, I responded to the area of 6299 N Dixie Hwy in reference to a suspicious incident. BRPD Dispatch received a call from an anonynous caller who wished to report someone they knew using nitrous oxide inside their vehicle. The caller provided the vehicle description as a black BMW parked on Forsyth St near N. Dixie Hwy, with a white female, "Giovanna Loruso", age 33, inside the vehicle using 40-50 cans. The caller called BRPD concerned that she would try to drive off. I then observed a black BMW SUV with no lights on parked in the roadway on Forsyth St just east of N. Dixie Hwy. I approached the vehicle and observed a white female seated in the driver seat with her seatbelt on and with a large green and white can on her lap. I also observed multiple large green opened boxes of the same cans and labeled "Nitrous Oxide" on the front passenger seat. I knocked on the driver window and spoke with the female. The female, later identified by her license to be Giovanna Lorusso Busse," rolled her window down to speak with me.
When I asked Giovanna what she was up to, she advised she was waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up. She later changed this to say she got into an argument with him and was waiting for her father to pick her up. While speaking with Giovanna, I noticed she was slurring her speech. I also noticed the large green and white can on her lap was also a Nitrous Oxide can with condensation on it. Based on uy training and experience with knowing that it is possible to inhale nitrous oxide to achieve a temporary "high," and impairment, I was concerned that Giovanna was possibly under the influence of alcohol and/or a chemically controlled substance. I asked her to step outside of her vehicle, to which she complied. When she exited her vehicle, she was unsteady on her feet and would sway backwards."
Police then conducted a series of field sobriety tests that she allegedly had issues completing. The report continues:
"I then asked her why she had all of those Nitrous Oxide cans inside her vehicle. She advised that she purchased them today from a vape shop in Boca Raton, and she uses then to bake cakes for her business. I then asked her if I could see the one that was on her lap, and she handed it to me. It felt wet and cold-to-the-touch, which indicated it was just recently opened. I asked her why this one was opened, and she advised that she was just checking to see if it was working. She further advised that it was on her lap because it "fell onto" her lap. I then asked why there were several cans also on the front passenger floorboard, and she advised that those had also fallen onto the floor. At this point, I could observe that Giovanna was no longer appearing under the influence, which is consistent with someone who inhales nitrous oxide.
Giovanna eventually asked me if she should talk to her lawyer. I then asked her if she wished to speak with me, and she replied she did wish to speak with me. She then stated that she had inhaled from the nitrous oxide can that was on her lap. She said she did this because she was feeling bad from the argument with her boyfriend and just wanted to feel better. She advised she inhaled it approximately 30 minutes before I arrived. The green and white can that was on her lap was labeled "Nitrox," "640g Nitrous Oxide 21+" "UN1070" "Not for medical use" with the warning, "Do not inhale contents" on it. The cans had weights of "1421.5g, 1456,8g, 1710.0g, 1451.1g, and 1427.6g"
Lourusso Busse was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail around 2 a.m. Friday and released later in the day on $5,000 bond. A court date is pending.
