Two individuals were taken into custody following an incident at a Virginia elementary school where seven students reportedly suffered adverse reactions after consuming gummy bears that were allegedly laced with fentanyl, as announced by the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
Central Elementary School in Amherst County contacted the county School Resource Officer on Tuesday after discovering that students required medical attention due to something they had ingested during lunch, according to the sheriff’s office.
Further investigation revealed that all seven fourth-grade students had consumed gummy bears brought to school by one student, who had shared them during lunch. The student had carried the candies in a plastic bag from home.
Of the affected students, five were transported to the hospital, with two taken by EMS and the remaining three by their parents, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upon responding to the incident, the school resource officer discovered residue in the plastic bag, which subsequently tested positive for fentanyl, officials stated. The bag is now being sent to the DEA for further testing and confirmation.
Clifford Dugan, aged 50, and Nicole Sanders, aged 26, were arrested and are now facing felony charges related to the incident, the sheriff confirmed. Both individuals have been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Additionally, Dugan is facing a second charge for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, while Sanders faces a second charge for the possession of a Schedule I or Schedule II drug.
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The identities and ages of the seven students who consumed the gummy bears have not been disclosed, and their current medical conditions remain unknown.