Police say charges are likely once they determine how the child got the drugs
TRENTON -- A kindergartener had to be checked out at a hospital Monday after 30 packets of heroin were found in his lunchbox, police said.
The 5-year-old boy -- a student at the International Academy of Trenton Charter School's Bellevue Avenue campus -- was playing with a small white object that his teacher thought was a candy wrapper, said Lt. Stephen Varn. She told him to put it away but when he resumed playing with it a few minutes later, she checked and discovered it was a packet of heroin, Varn said.
The teacher checked the boy's bag and lunchbox and found 29 more packets of heroin, according to Varn.
He was taken to Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell for evaluation, but tested negative for opioids, Varn said.
The investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Varn said that charges are likely once police determine how the child got the drugs.
A message seeking comment was left for the school director.
The charter school, which serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade, is in the midst of renovating the former Times of Trenton building on Perry Street and hope to move in later this year.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.