Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A student exposed to pepper spray at a San Jose middle school was sent to a hospital and 11 others were treated at the scene after complaining of respiratory irritation in their classroom.
Capt. Mitch Matlow of the San Jose Fire Department says firefighters evacuated the classroom Tuesday morning at the Sylvandale Middle School while a hazardous materials team inspected it.
Matlow says the emergency crews found a can of pepper spray in the classroom and determined it to be the cause of the irritant. The classroom was decontaminated before students were allowed back in.
The student sent to the hospital complained of minor irritation and a cough.
Matlow says it was not immediately clear how or when the pepper spray was released in the classroom. Police are investigating the incident.