Police say Mass. substitute teacher sickened by tainted coffee laced the drink himself

Police: Mass. substitute laced his own coffee

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Police in New Bedford, Mass., say a substitute teacher who was taken to a hospital after drinking tainted iced coffee has admitted lacing the drink himself.

The teacher, 27-year-old Chad Wunschel, became sick after taking a sip of the drink and spitting it out. That happened Wednesday during a welding class at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical Regional High School.

Police had been investigating whether a student might have spiked the coffee.

Police Chief Ronald Teachman said Friday that Wunschel told a detective he was depressed over a recent breakup and was looking for attention. Teachman said Wunschel will likely be charged with filing a false report.

Wunschel didn’t immediately return a phone message.

Police haven’t specified what the chemical was.

Information from: The Standard-Times, www.southcoasttoday.com