By Alex Rose, Daily Times, Primos, Pa. (TNS)
CHESTER — Ten children at the Chester Community Charter School were taken to Taylor Hospital Wednesday after ingesting THC-infused candy that a student had brought in, according to police.
The student’s mother, Cetorias Collins, 36, of the 800 block of McDonald Street, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count each of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and corruption of minors, and 10 counts of endangering the welfare of children.
All the kids were evaluated and are fine, police said.
A representative from the school did not return a call for comment.
Chester Police Officer Jose Alvarez, who serves as the Chester Upland School District resource officer, was dispatched to the charter school’s “East A” elementary school building at about noon for a report that numerous students had ingested candy edibles, according to an affidavit of probable cause for Collins’ arrest.
Principal Jessica Reynolds told Alvarez that a 9-year-old student had brought in the candy and shared it with several classmates during recess, according to the affidavit. Reynolds rounded up the 10 affected students and took them to the nurse’s office as soon as she discovered what had happened, then called police and medics, the affidavit says.
The students were taken to Taylor Hospital for evaluation, the affidavit says.
Collins, the mother of the 9-year-old who allegedly brought in the edibles, also arrived at the school to speak with police and administration, according to the affidavit. Police said Collins told CEO Dr. David Clark that she knew the edibles were in her home and unsecure.
The candy was tested and found to have a positive reaction for the presence of cannabis, according to the affidavit. It will be placed into evidence and sent off to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab, the affidavit says.
Collins was preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Harry J. Karapalides, who set bail at $50,000 unsecured. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Dawn Vann on June 7, according to electronic court records.