Halloween Candy Hoax in Maryland

A Halloween candy scare in a Maryland town turned out to be a “hoax” orchestrated by a 9-year-old boy who hid a sewing needle in his candy bag, according to local authorities.

Police in Rockville, Maryland, are urging families to “inspect all candy” after reports emerged of children discovering needles in their treats.

Authorities tracked down the boy’s home in the vicinity of Wales Drive and W. Edmundston Drive. They warned residents that two kids were given gummy bears, but found a sewing needle stuck inside.

Pictures shared by the police showed a needle lodged in two untouched gummy bear bags.

However, on Monday, law enforcement retracted their previous claims, announcing that the boy was not linked to any malicious activities.

“This incident was a hoax committed by a 9-year-old in the home where the call originated. The child admitted to putting sewing needles in two packages of gummy candy,” the Rockville police stated.

The child’s parents uncovered the needle after they used a magnet to check the candy bag.

After realizing the extent of “public and media attention” his prank garnered, the nine-year-old admitted to the act.

Authorities confirmed that there were no reports of other candy being “maliciously tampered with” during Halloween weekend.

Rockville Police Chief Jason L. West expressed gratitude that the incident didn’t represent a greater risk to safety, praising the officers for their swift investigation that revealed the truth.

Typically, officials advise parents to watch for dangerous items like razor blades in candy; however, with the legalization of certain substances, the focus has shifted toward helping parents identify regular sweets versus potentially harmful counterfeit items containing recreational drugs.

As Halloween approaches, Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory is recalling large batches of full-sized peanut butter crush bars and cashew cow bars due to undeclared cashews and peanuts.