The latest per WRAL:
DURHAM, N.C. — A suspect was arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection with a mercury scare that shut down an elementary school on Wednesday; and at least one child is exhibiting symptoms of mercury exposure, officials said.
Authorities said Carlos Guerra, 21, an air-conditioning technician for Carroll Service Corp. in Garner, passed out mercury to four children at Iglesia de Restauracion, a church on Ramseur Street near downtown Durham last Friday night.
Guerra, authorities said, had stolen the mercury from an unlocked container at TTI Iron & Metal in Garner, where he had been doing work. He was charged with misdemeanor larceny and is being held under $2,000 unsecured bond. More charges are possible, pending an investigation, authorities said. …
A high level of mercury was found on at least one of the buses, officials said Thursday evening, and at least one child was exhibiting signs of mercury exposure, such as trouble breathing, diarrhea and coughing.
At this point, authorities do not know how many children may have come in contact with the mercury.
The situation has been made more difficult, authorities said, because the four children who were given the mercury, as well as others at the church, are Hispanic and the language barrier has slowed the flow of information. …
