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Fargo police look for source of hallucinogenic mushrooms
By Jeff Zent, The Forum
Published Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Fargo police are searching for the source of hallucinogenic mushrooms taken by two local men who reportedly overdosed.

In unrelated incidents, the two men, ages 24 and 25, were transported to local hospitals for treatment of psilocybin mushroom overdose last week, Sgt. Pat Claus said Monday.

Psilocybin mushrooms are hallucinogens that produce different effects ranging from euphoria to paranoia.

About 1 a.m. July 16, a patrol officer found a local man standing in the middle of 13th Street and Eighth Avenue North, where he was stopping cars and directing traffic, Claus said.

When the patrol officer approached, the 24-year-old jumped on the hood of the squad car, Claus said.

The man admitted taking mushrooms and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, he said.

About 1 a.m. the next day, police responded to a call at a downtown Fargo residence where they found a 25-year-old man vomiting and suffering from seizures.

The man had reportedly eaten mushrooms. He, too, was transported to a local hospital for treatment, Claus said.

No charges were filed against the men. Police declined to identify them.

Claus said police have no information to believe that the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is growing in the Fargo area.

"This drug has always been in our community in a low level," he said.

Police don't know if there is a potential problem with the mushrooms or if the men simply consumed too much, Claus said.

"We definitely want to track down the source so we don't have any more incidences," he said.

MeritCare Hospital treated one person for drug overdose over the weekend, hospital spokeswoman Carrie Johnson said.

Dawn Zink, Innovis Health spokeswoman, said she didn't know if the south Fargo hospital treated anyone during the weekend for an overdose of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

She said Innovis is treating a growing number of people for drug-use complications.

Fargo police seize pot, hallucinogenic mushrooms near school

Fargo police officers seized two pounds of marijuana and a small amount of hallucinogenic psilocybin mushrooms Monday during a search of a north side residence near Washington Elementary School.

The narcotics and gangs unit also seized several items of marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia, police said.

The seizure was made during the execution of a search warrant in an ongoing drug investigation, Sgt. Pat Claus said Tuesday afternoon. He said an arrest in the case is anticipated.

Claus said the address where the seizure took place would not be released until the police had talked to the owner of the residence.

Police said the owner of the residence could face a felony drug charges of possessing marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs within 1,000 feet of a school. The owner could also face a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug parapehernalia, police said.

Claus said more seizures of drug proceeds, including cash and real property are anticipated.

The Fargo Police Narcotics/Gangs Unit was aided by the Cass County Drug Task Force, which is made up of law enforcement officers from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Cass County Sheriff's Department and the West Fargo Police Department.