Cops Find Weapons Cache After Pot Cookie Sickens High School Student

A Woodbury man and three teens have been arrested on several drug charges after a Nonnewaug High School student in Woodbury, Connecticut got sick on Friday after eating a marijuana-laced cookie. The investigation led police to uncover a cache of weapons, authorities said.

The 18-year-old girl who became ill at Nonnewaug High School was taken to Waterbury Hospital.

As police investigated, they learned she had given a 17-year-old boy $20 to buy the cookie from another teen, police said.

When investigators went to a home on Park Street in Woodbury to speak with the teen suspected of selling the laced cookie, they encountered several students and smelled burnt marijuana, police said.

Police then applied for a search warrant and waited.

Once the warrant was granted, officers found 2.2 pounds of marijuana, two small explosive devices, 44 guns, smoking pipes, scales, packaging paraphernalia, as well as other drug paraphernalia and $7,440 cash, according to police.

State police said they seized several items because the investigation involved narcotics given to a student.

Ronald Hoyt, a 49-year-old resident of the house police searched, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of illegal possession of explosives.

Hoyt's attorney said he has nothing to do with making or selling the marijuana cookie that sent the student to the hospital.

"Mr. Hoyt denies any and all involvement whatsoever in the making of any food laced with marijuana," Ioannis A. Kaloidis, Hoyt's attorney, said in a statement released to NBC Connecticut. "My client was not involved and had no knowledge of any of the events that resulted in a student becoming ill. Any claims to the contrary are false. All firearms found in the home were owned legally and the cash that was seized was also obtained legally. We will address all further claims in court."

Hoyt was released on a $10,000 bond and is due in court in Waterbury on Nov. 12. 

Investigators said the firearms could be returned in the future, but they are looking into whether all the firearms seized are legal and have permits.

Three 17-year-old boys were charged with marijuana possession and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Police haven't said whether Hoyt is related to any of them, but police said all of them were released to their guardians.

Two of the teens were also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. One was additionally charged with making a false statement in the second degree, and another was charged with illegal sale of a controlled substance.

Carina Booker graduated from Nonnewaug High School five years ago and now her brother is a freshman there.

"He preaches and practices against drugs and stuff, but who knows if people are approaching him and saying this, who knows if his friends might be. It's scary," Booker said in reaction to the incident of the student getting sick off the pot-laced cookies.

She recalled certain groups of students bringing items like that to parties upon occasion, but she never remembered anyone bringing something like that to school.

The three teens who were arrested are due in Torrington Juvenile Court on Nov. 15.

Police said they are still investigating.

The superintendent of the district Nonnewaug is in declined NBC Connecticut's request for an interview, but said over the phone that the district is taking the matter very seriously.

Contact Us