Suffolk County police have arrested two men in connection with an incident earlier this year in which multiple William Paca Middle School students became ill after consuming cannabis-laced gummies on school grounds.
According to police, Jahsheem Jones, 18, of 85 Robinwood Drive in Mastic Beach, was arrested on October 20 following an investigation by the Seventh Precinct Investigation Unit. Detectives determined that Jones sold cannabis gummies to a middle school student who later distributed them to classmates in May, causing several to fall ill. Jones was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor, and was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket. He is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
Earlier in the investigation, police also arrested Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, of Mastic, a Guatemalan national, who faced multiple felony drug and child endangerment charges in the same case. Garcia was released without bail under New York’s current bail laws, prompting community outrage and renewed criticism of the state’s bail reform policies.
Officials said that on the day of the incident, 12 students at William Paca Middle School reported feeling ill after consuming the gummies. Eleven were transported to local hospitals for treatment, while one was released into the custody of a parent. Suffolk County Police, EMTs, and the school nurse all responded to the scene.
“Following a thorough investigation, detectives identified and located the individuals responsible for supplying the cannabis products that reached the students,” a police spokesperson said.
James Montalto, Public Relations Director for the William Floyd School District, thanked police for their efforts and said the district continues to educate students about the dangers of drug use.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.