Loudoun County, Virginia – In a story that hits a little to close to home. Our state and local schools have seen a rise in accidental overdoses in Virginia. Two individuals have been apprehended following an incident at a Virginia elementary school where a student brought gummy bears to school in a container that tested positive for fentanyl, triggering a medical emergency, as per authorities.
The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office reported that seven children at Central Elementary School in Amherst reacted by ingesting the gummy bears on Tuesday, with five students subsequently being transported to local hospitals for treatment.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Lt. Dallas Hill, a spokesperson for the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, stated that the bag containing the candy showed residue testing positive for fentanyl. While it was initially reported that the gummy bears themselves tested positive for the drug, Hill clarified that the candy is undergoing further testing, and only the bag exhibited fentanyl residue. A school resource officer investigating the scene “observed residue in the baggie that contained the gummies,” after which the bag tested positive for fentanyl with a department-issued field test kit, authorities said.
A man and a woman have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Clifford Dugan faces charges of contributing to the delinquency/abuse of a minor and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He is held without bond. Nicole Sanders is charged with drug possession and contributing to delinquency/abuse of a minor, with a $2,500 bond.
“THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL ISSUE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE,” HE SAID. “WE HAVE THESE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FENTANYL DIDN’T JUST SHOW UP AT SCHOOL. THE FENTANYL CAME FROM SOMEBODY’S HOUSE. AND SO WE NEED TO WAKE UP AS A COUNTY AND AS A COMMUNITY AND REALIZE THAT THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.” – Lt. Dallas Hill, Amherst County Sheriff’s Office
Additional charges may be forthcoming, as per Hill. The suspects were scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, and it remains unclear if they have legal representation.
Authorities did not disclose the relationship between the suspects and the student who brought the candy to school. The affected students, all from the same fourth-grade class, displayed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and lethargy after consuming the gummy bears. Fortunately, they have been released from the hospital and are in good health.
Despite initial beliefs that the students had an allergic reaction, further testing revealed fentanyl residue in the bag. Superintendent Wells emphasized that the incident appears unintentional, involving the student who brought the candy also consuming some of the gummy bears. The fentanyl was confined to the bag, with no indication that the drug was present on other surfaces in the school building.
In response to the incident, school officials urged students not to bring food to share, but acknowledged challenges in monitoring lunchtime activities. If food is brought to share, they request it to be in its original store-bought container. Superintendent Wells emphasized that this incident is a community issue, urging awareness and recognition of such occurrences within the community. The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.
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