Westchester Officials: Synthetic Marijuana Likely To Blame For Sickening 13 Inmates

VALHALLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Westchester County authorities now say a total of 13 county jail inmates were hospitalized over the weekend after becoming sick from apparently using synthetic marijuana.

The inmates were overcome with the same symptoms, which included vomiting, sudden agitation, hallucinations and going into a catatonic state, officials said. At least two inmates admitted they had ingested the synthetic drug.

County Executive Rob Astorino responded by ordering a lockdown and top-to-bottom search of the jail overnight.

"That search was conducted over the course of the night by more than 40 police and corrections officers, accompanied by drug dogs," Astorino told reporters, including WCBS 880's Irene Cornell and 1010 WINS' Al Jones. "The search covered approximately 240 cells and multiple common areas and yielded at least four inmates in possession of drug-related contraband.

"Every building on this correction campus will be inspected. All these actions are being conducted to ensure the safety of the public, our corrections staff and the inmates as well."

Officials believe the synthetic pot was smuggled in by visitors.

So far this year, there have been 26 arrests for attempts to smuggle drugs into the jail, authorities said.

All the hospitalized inmates are now back in their jail cells.

In:
• Irene Cornell