Violent teen ingested unknown substance

Historic City News has received word that, over the weekend, five teenage boys, between 15 and 17 years of age, were transported to Baptist South Hospital after exhibiting violent symptoms believed to have been caused from eating a substance ordered from the Republic of China.

A 17 year-old who lives on North Lake Cunningham Avenue, attacked his father and deputies when they attempted to subdue him. His parents told deputies and paramedics that his behavior was “out of control” after ingesting what may be some form of bath salts.

According to the incident report, the juvenile struck one deputy in the face with his closed fist, was combative with his father, and, at one point, he threw off four men attempting to restrain him. Without effect, he resisted repeated shocks from a Taser and strikes from a baton. The fight went on for fifteen minutes before he was secured to a stretcher and transported to the hospital.

A total of four more teens, which did not fight with deputies, exhibited similar symptoms of agitation and were transported to the hospital for medical treatment without incident.

Deputies learned that the boys allegedly received a substance called “2C-I” from a 16 year-old who lives in the neighborhood. He told officers that he ordered the white flakey substance over the Internet from China.

Deputies located a plastic bag containing the material which failed a presumptive field test for both Methamphetamine and LSD. The unknown substance is on the way to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for analysis in order to determine its identity.

The report from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says that all juveniles involved we eventually transported to Wolfsons Children’s Hospital for additional treatment and evaluation.

Charges are pending further investigation by youth resource deputies.