By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The FBI is trying to determine how a Georgia man was exposed to the deadly toxin, ricin.
William Christopher Gibbs, 27, went to the hospital and said he had been exposed to ricin, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
On Feb. 2, Gibbs was arrested on suspicion on reckless conduct and citation of probation. According to a police report, Gibbs’ mother said her son has mental health issues, including schizophrenia.
“We have identified no evidence that any poisonous or toxic substances have been dispersed or that the public is at risk, and we are coordinating with the 4th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team of the Army National Guard and the Cherokee County Fire Department to ensure that the area is safe,” US Attorney John Horn said in a statement.
Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby said Gibbs’ ricin was found in Gibbs’ car.
It’s unlikely that the exposure was accidental, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people,” the CDC website states. “Unintentional exposure to ricin is highly unlikely, except through the ingestion of castor beans.”
