'Drug-laced' cookies shared with Dawson Creek elementary school students

RCMP in Dawson Creek, B.C., are investigating an incident in which a child brought cookies suspected of containing drugs to a local elementary school, and then shared them with classmates.

Officials with the Peace River South School District confirm the incident happened at École Frank Ross at the end of October, but are saying little else, refusing to confirm how many students ate the cookies in question, or whether any of them became ill as a result.

"For privacy reasons, the school district can only make limited comment, but can confirm such an incident did occur and that the appropriate authorities were involved and addressed the issue," said superintendent Leslie Lamm in an emailed statement.

The CBC has learned the students in question are eight or nine years old, and that the number of those who ate the cookies is small. 

School district officials will say only that the cookies are suspected to have been "drug-laced" but they will not say why they believe that to be the case.

Several kids sickened, police say

RCMP confirmed that several children became ill and had to go home from school early.

Dawson Creek RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Scott West said in a written statement that police are working to determine if the incident should be considered a criminal matter, and are asking for parents of children who may have eaten the cookies to contact police.

"We respect that news of this incident has raised concerns. We are working with our partners to determine exactly what happened," he said. "Any parents who may have noticed anything strange or unusual with their child or even sought medical attention are encouraged to call police."

The Ministry of Children and Family Development is also involved in the investigation, West said.