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FULTON COUNTY, GA. (FOX 5 Atlanta) – At least one food item investigated by investigators after several students became ill at a Fulton County Middle School was positive for THC, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday.
According to a press release, the GBI Crime Lab has received 46 food items from Sandtown Middle School, one of the items having the appearance of cereals showing the presence of THC.
The announcement comes a week after 28 school students got sick after apparently eating snacks or sweets, prompting school officials to seek the help of Grady EMS. and South Fulton Fire Rescue. The doctors took the 28 students to one of the three Atlanta Children's Healthcare hospitals for treatment. Three of the sick students spent the night at the hospital.
According to the statement, the GBI Crime Lab continues to make the complete analysis of all items related to this incident a priority.
The Police Department of Fulton County Schools is responsible for the criminal investigation.
The school system will hold a 13-hour press conference to share the lab's initial findings at its headquarters, located at 6201 Powers Ferry Road in Atlanta.
"The GBI testing laboratory confirmed that THC (a chemical compound of cannabis / marijuana) had been found in one of Sandtown Middle School's samples," said Dr. Shannon Flounnory, executive director of the Safety Division. and FCS security. "This is an ongoing investigation, but FCS wanted to provide this information to parents and the community as soon as it was available and confirm what we know at this point."
"The FCS Student Code of Conduct specifically prohibits the possession of unauthorized intoxicants on campus," continued Flounnory. "We will study this thoroughly and we will see it as much as possible."
According to a school district press release, the Fulton County School Police Service will determine if criminal proceedings will be filed.
Documents released earlier in the week suggest that school police investigators focused on edible products, drugged treats brought to school for Valentine's Day.
"The health, safety and well-being of every student is a top priority for Fulton County schools and we continue to support those at Sandtown Middle School who were affected on February 14th," said the school district. Fulton County in a statement to FOX 5 News previously during the week.
The district released Tuesday a heavily redacted police incident report describing the unfolding of events as well as interviews with at least 12 students. The report says Rice Krispy's home-made treats and heart-shaped lollipops were taken as evidence after the illness.
RELATED: School officials try to find out what made sick 28 college students
The report indicates that students began to feel ill around noon. A student was sent to the nurse's office to complain about headaches and stomach problems. Police said that they had come to find the student disoriented, hallucinating with red eyes of water and that he was crying loud and clear. The officer said that some students showed signs of intoxication with drugs.
School police questioned twelve students by giving them a litany of food and treats that they had eaten that day. This is how the investigators were able to focus on both treats. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation tests these treats to determine if they contain drugs.
"Our school police service continues to handle this case in an extremely methodical and objective manner. Part of the process includes student interviews, evidence gathering and a review of early reports, "the school district wrote.
MORE: Read the police incident report
The school reopened Wednesday after school holidays on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, the school recruited additional counselors "to help students meet their social and emotional needs."
According to Thursday's press release, school counselors are available for students and parents may wish to contact health professionals if they have other concerns regarding the immediate health of their children .
FCS also offers all students education and advice on the dangers of ingesting food from unknown sources.
"We want to be very clear about the fact that Fulton County schools will fully enforce the law and the most serious consequences allowed by our disciplinary code of conduct for students if the investigation revealed a wrongdoing," wrote the school district.
RELATED: school officials: 28 sick students after eating sweets, snacks at Sandtown Middle School
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