Police warn of used hypodermic needle dumped near Petaluma school

Petaluma police are on the lookout for a used hypodermic syringe dumped on a dirt path near Sonoma Mountain Elementary School.|

Petaluma police are on the lookout for a used hypodermic syringe dumped on a dirt path near Sonoma Mountain Elementary School.

Police put out a warning Thursday night urging caution for people using the path behind the school.

Police said they received a call about a “suspicious person” walking behind the school carrying a syringe. Police officers responded and detained the person, but he no longer had the syringe.

He said he dumped it near a bridge that crossed over a creek, police said.

That led to an extensive police search of the area, but no syringe was found.

“Community members are encouraged to keep a watchful eye out for the discarded syringe so that it may be properly destroyed and no longer a health risk for users of the area,” police officials said in a statement.

Officials said the person who finds the syringe should call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.

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