Gumballs given to trick-or-treaters in Lake Stevens tested for PCP
LAKE STEVENS, Wash. -- Families living in Lake Stevens can now feel relieved after tests show suspicious gumballs were not tainted after all.
Lake Stevens Police quickly investigated reports that the colorful gumballs given to trick-or-treaters may have contained the illegal drug PCP.
According to police, a school resource officer at Cavalero Mid-High School noticed students with colorful gumballs in unusual packaging for trick-or-treat candy. The officer said they came in a baggie that didn't look like store-bought candy. The gumballs had white lettering with the words "DUBBLE BUBBLE" on them.
Out of an abundance of caution, the officer did a field test which came back with preliminary positive results. The officer contacted administrators and the students underwent a medical evaluation. A blood test of the student later came back negative for the drug.
School administrators notified the families of students who were involved.
Police wanted to emphasize that Narcotic Identification Kit results are very preliminary and false positives can occur because of the reaction with sugar. The items were sent to the WSP Crime Lab for further testing. On Friday, the results came back negative.
The suspicious candy may have come from a home on the north end of Lake Stevens. Police say for anyone with suspicious candy should report it.