San Diego Police are investigating an alarming discovery after young children trick-or-treating in the Ocean Beach neighborhood collected packages appearing to contain psilocybin mushroom gummies from a residential porch. Fathers Frank Cary and Cameron Hunter made the unsettling find while walking just a few yards behind their children during neighborhood Halloween festivities.
Cary noticed something was amiss when his two-year-old child picked up a package from a bowl left out for trick-or-treaters. Upon closer inspection, Cary observed unusual graphics and dosage information on the front, prompting him to immediately take the item away from his toddler and flip it over to read that it contained psilocybin mushrooms.
After checking the remaining items in their children's collection bags, the parents returned to the property and confronted a resident. A partial video recording was captured of the confrontation, during which the homeowner, identified as Shawn Barger, strongly denied that the candy bowl or the psychedelic gummies belonged to anyone in his household.
Barger defended himself by stating that the packages were far too costly for him to purchase and leave unattended for strangers, estimating the value of the items to be around three hundred dollars. He further noted that his home rarely receives visitors due to its local reputation as a scary or unusual residence.
Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact contents of the recovered packages. Lieutenant Cesar Jimenez of the San Diego Police Department stated that laboratory testing will be required before officials can determine if a criminal offense occurred or if any charges will be filed.
The parents expressed shock that such products could be left out in a community setting where young children would naturally assume they were safe, edible treats. An active investigation into the incident remains ongoing.