Houston Dentist Arrested Again with 108 Nitrous Oxide Canisters

Houston dentist and university professor Christopher Pedlar was arrested for the third time in four months, found in possession of over 100 canisters of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. Pedlar was caught by Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office after a brief chase, during which he was reportedly huffing the gas. Despite being intended for dental use, Pedlar admitted to inhaling it throughout the day, leading to charges of possession of volatile chemicals and eluding law enforcement. The recent arrest follows similar offenses in October and December 2024, where he was found with large quantities of the gas. Pedlar, who was out on a $5,000 bond from a previous offense, has been removed from his teaching position at UTHealth School of Dentistry-Houston as his behavior raises concerns about his professional conduct. Authorities and his defense have acknowledged his ongoing struggle with substance abuse.