LAPORTE COUNTY — Police in LaPorte County are investigating after a group of teenagers ate gummy bears that contained THC.

Police were called out to the 5200 block of County Road 325 West.

When they arrived they found a 19-year-old male along the road.

He told a sheriff’s deputy that he ingested an unknown drug and was sick and wanted to go to the emergency room.

He told police he was in the area with friends who had also ingested the drugs.

Police were able to locate a home in the area where they believe the incident occurred. Inside the home, police found ten other teenagers who had also taken the drugs.

They complained of rapid heart rate, pain in the legs and blurred vision. Several were also suffering from hallucinations.

Police determined that the teens had each ingested one half of a gummy bear that supposedly contained THC.

THC is the street term for tetrahydrocannabinol, which is an active ingredient found in marijuana.

Eleven 18- and 19-year-olds were taken to local hospitals. Police say six of the teens are male, and five are female.

Police are still trying to determine where the gummy bears came from.

—–

From the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office:

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that occurred just prior to midnight on Thursday July 7, 2017 involving several teens and narcotics. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 5200 N block of CR 325 W regarding a person that had called 911 and was requesting medical assistance. Deputy Justin Phillips was the first to arrive and found a 19-year-old male along the road. The male told Deputy Phillips that he had ingested an unknown type drug and was ill and wanted to go to the emergency room. He further related that he was in the area camping with friends and that they too had ingested the drug however because he was not from the area wasn’t sure where his friends were although he believed that they were in a home nearby.

As other sheriff’s deputies arrived to assist they were able to locate a home in the 5200 N block of CR 325 W where this is believed to have occurred. In the residence they found ten other teenagers all of whom had ingested an unknown narcotic that was making them ill. All complained of rapid heart rate, pain in their legs and blurred vision; several were suffering from hallucinations. Deputy Phillips was able to determine that the teens had each ingested one half of a gummy bear that supposedly contained THC. “THC” is the street term for tetrahydrocannabinol which is an active ingredient found in marijuana.

La Porte County Emergency Medical Service was called to the scene and responded with three ambulances and transported 11 patients to two area hospitals. Four were taken to Franciscan St. Anthony’s in Michigan City and seven were transported to La Porte Hospital. All of the teens were from Fishers, Indiana and believed to have been staying at a residence of a relative of one of the teens. Nine of the teens are 18-years-old and two were 19-years-old; six were males and five were females. Two of the patients were tested and were found to have high levels of THC in their system.

The origin of the narcotic infused gummy bears is not known however La Porte County Drug Task Force investigators have been notified and are actively pursuing leads in the case. The matter will be reviewed by the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office to determine if any criminal charges will apply.

Source: WNDU