UPDATE (6/7/17): Police on Wednesday reversed their previous statement about a business that had a substance that tested positive for cocaine, saying it was not a drug.
In a statement, Bell Gardens police said:
"The specific substance resembles talcum powder or baking soda but has yet to be determined; we are, however, confident that it is not cocaine nor does it pose a health risk."
Previously: A mother and her young son got a terrible surprise when a toy they purchased from a Bell Gardens restaurant vending machine turned out to contain cocaine, police said Tuesday.
The toy -- a putty ball contained in a plastic container -- was purchased Monday from a gumball-type machine at Taqueria Los Altos at 6939 Eastern Ave., according to Bell Gardens police Detective Miguel Torres.
"While her son was playing with the putty ball toy, it ruptured and a white powdery substance came out," Torres said, adding that the mother then called police.
The white powder tested positive for cocaine and a total of 136 grams of the drug were removed and recovered, according to the detective.
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A phone number on the vending machine was linked to a company called Snack Time Vending, Torres said.
"If any local businesses are using this company's toy/candy vending machines, please contact us immediately and remove them from public access," Torres said.
A spokesman with the restaurant said the family owned business has been operating for 30 years and it has never had any problems in the past.
"In no way are we affiliated with this company," spokesman Alfredo Sanchez said. "We only lease the location to the company but we have no knowledge of where their items originate from."
NBC4's Hetty Chang contributed to this report.
