Suffolk County police have arrested a Mastic Beach man in connection with an incident earlier this year in which several William Paca Middle School students became ill after consuming cannabis gummies.
According to police, Jahsheem Jones, 18, of 85 Robinwood Drive, was arrested October 20 following an investigation by Seventh Precinct detectives. Officers determined that Jones had sold cannabis gummies to a student who later distributed them to others at the school in May.
Multiple students reported feeling sick on school grounds and were transported to a local hospital for treatment after ingesting the THC-laced gummies, police said.
“Following a thorough investigation, detectives identified and located the individual responsible for supplying the cannabis products that reached the students,” a Suffolk Police Department spokesperson said in a statement. “We want to remind parents and guardians to speak with their children about the dangers of consuming unknown substances and to report any suspicious activity immediately.”
Jones was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.
The arrest follows the arrest of Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, of Mastic, who was also charged with selling gummies at William Floyd. Garcia, a Guatemalan national, faced multiple felony drug and child endangerment counts but was released without bail under New York’s current bail laws, prompting strong community and political backlash.
Police said the investigation into the Paca Middle School incident remains ongoing and that additional charges may be filed. Officials also urged residents to keep all cannabis products locked away and out of reach of children.
“We warned about something like this when the Democrats pushed through their pot legalization bill,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano.