Article Contributed on: 5/7/2009 9:35:03 AM
Arvada police arrested two North Arvada Middle School students in connection with a pepper spray incident causing the evacuation of the entire school (500 students) on April 27.
Two eighth grade students, (one male, one female ages 13 and 14) were arrested on one count (each) of Interference of an Educational Institution and 19 counts (each) of Reckless Endangerment.
The arrests stemmed from an incident at the school where more than one dozen lockers were sprayed with pepper spray in three different locations in the building.
Students were evacuated outside and then to the school's evacuation site at Hackberry Hill Elementary School until the Jefferson County School District's Environmental Services team could clean up the pepper spray.
Twelve students were transferred to Lutheran Hospital for respiratory problems. They were treated and released the same day.Five additional students were examined by emergency services personnel on-scene. Two North Arvada Middle staff members sought medical care for symptoms later that day. (A Total of 19 people were directly impacted by the pepper spray.)
The suspects, who were arrested on Monday, May 4, were taken to the Mt. View Detention Facility. They are facing misdemeanor charges.
Susan Medina is the public information officer for the Arvada Police Department