Police: Teen’s suicide attempt leads to hazmat response in Lakewood

A 19-year-old man's suicide attempt in Lakewood Monday prompted an investigation by the county hazmat team, as well as federal authorities. Police say that the unidentified teen tried to take his own

News 12 Staff

Jul 19, 2016, 12:39 AM

Updated 2,838 days ago

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Police: Teen’s suicide attempt leads to hazmat response in Lakewood
A 19-year-old man's suicide attempt in Lakewood Monday prompted an investigation by the county hazmat team, as well as federal authorities.
Police say that the unidentified teen tried to take his own life by ingesting a poisonous substance he claimed to be ricin. Police say that he later changed his mind, vomited and went to the hospital to seek treatment.
Officials say that preliminary test results showed evidence of castor beans, one of the ingredients used to make ricin, but the substance was not ricin itself.
Lakewood officials called in the state police, FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate the incident. Roads around the Birch Street home were closed for a time, but authorities say there is no danger to the public.
The teen was cleared by poison control, but remains in the hospital for a psychological evaluation.


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