A scary incident occurred on December 12, 2023, at Central Elementary School in Amherst, Virginia. Seven students needed medical attention after eating something at lunch that caused nausea, vomiting, and muscle spasms. After some detective work, it was discovered that all of the children ate gummy bears from a bag that was contaminated with fentanyl.
Five of these students were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The following day, Clifford Dugan, 50, and Nicole Sanders, 26, were arrested in connection with the incident. They face charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
It is believed a child brought the gummy bears to school and shared them with friends. The child did not know about the bag and even ate some themselves. Dr. William Wells, superintendent of Amherst County Public Schools, stressed that this was a failure of the adults involved, not the student. “The fentanyl didn’t just show up at school, the fentanyl came from somebody’s house,” Wells explained.
The gummies were not the issue. “Law enforcement tested the gummies and they tested negative for foreign substance,” Wells explained. “However, when they tested the residue in the bag, the field test indicated a positive response for fentanyl.” The sibling of the child in question also brought gummy bears in a different bag, which was not tainted.
More from LittleThings: Putting Gummy Bears And Sprite Into Popsicle Trays Makes The Best Summer Treat EVER!
It is believed the caregiver of the child packed the tainted bag. Lt. Dallas Hill from the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office is outraged at this carelessness. “This type of behavior is completely unacceptable. It’s unacceptable for this county, it’s acceptable for our families. And we will work diligently day and night to be able to bring to justice those who commit this act,” the law enforcement officer promised.
Wells assured families that every precaution was taken, even cleaning the school after the incident. “The fentanyl was contained to the bag and we did not have any indication that fentanyl was on additional surfaces in the building,” Wells explained. “But we did go ahead and clean the building this morning just to make sure everything was clean.”
The five students who were taken to the hospital were released the same day. Dugan and Sanders face additional charges beyond the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Dugan faces a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The judge did not grant bail in his case. Sanders was charged with possession of a controlled substance and bail is set at $2,500. Both are being held at the Amherst County Adult Detention Center.
