CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — Sheriff's officials say they believe a syringe found in birdseed at a Georgia Walmart is unrelated to more than a dozen syringes found in clothing items at the same store in late 2011.

In the latest case, a 52-year-old Bartow County man called police after purchasing a bag of birdseed from the Cartersville store. The man told deputies that when he opened the bag, he was stuck by a needle.

Bartow County sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Rogers tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the case involves a sealed package of birdseed purchased from the Cartersville Walmart. He said the earlier cases, reported in November 2011, involved syringes being placed in items at the store.

Police investigated at least 15 cases of needles being found in the Cartersville store in 2011.