Two arrested after psilocybin gummies given to children on Halloween

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) - An 80-year-old man and a 45-year-old man suspected of distributing psilocybin gummies to at least 15 trick-or-treating children between 1 and 6 years old in a San Diego neighborhood were taken into custody Wednesday following a search operation.

Multiple bags of psilocybin-infused gummies were left on a residence's porch around 6 p.m. Saturday and were later taken by children, according to the San Diego Police Department.  

Police said the children's parents noticed the suspicious candy packages and, upon inspecting them, suspected they contained controlled substances.

The parents then confronted the homeowners and later filed a police report with the department, saving the packages of the gummies for law enforcement evaluation, which later tested positive for psilocybin.   

Officers responded around 11 a.m. Wednesday to the 2100 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, where they served a search warrant.   

During the search, officers discovered an identical bag of psilocybin gummies to those distributed on Halloween in the home.

Detectives seized over 2.5 pounds of cannabis, more than 25 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a working digital scale, packaging materials and drug sales ledgers.

An illegally possessed rifle was also located at the residence, along with dozens of rounds of unfired ammunition and a partially assembled pistol.   

The two men were arrested and booked into the San Diego County Jail. The 80-year-old man was booked on suspicion of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, while the 45-year-old man faces suspicion of possessing both a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

According to police, a San Diego code compliance investigator responded to the scene to begin a separate investigation into the property's unpermitted living structures.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to contact the Narcotics Unit at 619-531-2468. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.