CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The father of a Ridgeview student sent to the hospital after the homecoming dance on Saturday night is speaking out about what happened.
Rumors online suggested that a few students may have been drugged, though the Clay County Sheriff’s Office says there’s been no evidence of this so far.
Thomas Tucker said his son was experiencing concerning symptoms.
“He kept saying that he couldn’t feel his hands; he was shaking violently,” Tucker said. “He was just like a limp body; He had to be dragged all the way to the side of the building.”
Tucker said it happened after his son drank from an open Coke bottle another student gave him.
“Then within 20 minutes of that is when he started having the heart issues,” Tucker said.
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The Clay County School District told Action News Jax there was no evidence of drink tampering, saying that this was an isolated incident.
It was later revealed that an additional student was transported to the hospital, and another received medical attention.
Tucker said his son tried to help one of them before he started experiencing symptoms of his own.
“He said she looked panicked, you know, like she just didn’t know where she was,” Tucker said.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office put out a statement Sunday saying that hospital drug tests came back negative, though it’s unclear what drugs they tested for.
They also said they were looking into caffeine pills, which Tucker said his son took earlier that night.
He says if drugs were involved, he thinks it could’ve been GHB — a drug that can cause dizziness, amnesia, and seizures.
“Hypothetically if GHB was involved, GHB and taking high levels of caffeine pills or just caffeine doses in general, it almost explains his reactions to a T,” Tucker said. “The heart issues being catatonic, it explains everything almost 100%.”
Tucker said his son was not tested for GHB, and because of its shelf life, it’s likely too late to know if that was in his system.
READ: Clay County authorities address spiking rumors at Ridgeview High School’s homecoming
The Clay County School District initially said that student bags were searched prior to entry.
In an email obtained by Action News Jax from a parent, Ridgeview later said in part, “Following a review of our event entry, we identified areas where our bag screening procedures were not fully implemented by staff at the door. We take this very seriously and are addressing these operational oversights internally to ensure strict compliance with all security guidelines at all future district events.”
Their full statement is below.
Hello Ridgeview High School families, this is Principal Gunder calling with an important update regarding Saturday night’s Homecoming dance.
I want to share the official findings from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office regarding rumors of drink spiking. Law enforcement has thoroughly investigated these reports and confirmed there is no evidence to suggest drink spiking or tampering. Most importantly, CCSO reported that hospital drug screenings conducted on the students who received medical attention came back completely negative.
We also want to be fully transparent with our school community. Following a review of our event entry, we identified areas where our bag screening procedures were not fully implemented by staff at the door. We take this very seriously and are addressing these operational oversights internally to ensure strict compliance with all security guidelines at all future district events.
The safety, security, and well-being of our Panthers is always our highest priority. We deeply appreciate your partnership.
Thank you for working together with us to keep our school community safe, and have a great evening.
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