9-Year-Old Admits Hoax of Planting Needle in Own Halloween Candy in Rockville

A Halloween candy scare in Rockville, Maryland, initially caused widespread alarm when two children were reported to have received gummy bear packages containing sewing needles. However, after a thorough investigation, police revealed that the incident was a prank orchestrated by a 9-year-old child who admitted to inserting sewing needles into their own candy. The child confessed during a follow-up conversation with their parents after the candy was found using a magnet during a safety check. Authorities confirmed that no other instances of candy tampering were reported, and the event did not pose a broader public safety threat. Rockville City Police Department Chief Jason L. West commended the swift and diligent investigation by officers and detectives. The incident highlights the importance of candy inspection during Halloween but ultimately was a hoax without malicious intent beyond the child's prank.