Wait, What? Caro Elementary Students Pepper-Sprayed by Mistake

It was a scary scene earlier this week, when kids and staff at Schall Elementary in Caro began coughing nonstop from something in the air. While they had no idea what it was from, never in a million years would they suspect it was the sheriff’s department across the street.

According to ABC 12, one of the sheriff's office employees had emptied about 10 cans of expired pepper spray behind their building around 8 a.m. The plan was to safely discharge the spray so the cans could be tossed in the trash compactor.

How Pepper Spray From the Sheriff’s Office Reached Caro Elementary

It seemed pretty routine until about 40 minutes later, when the fumes drifted across to the school playground. Yup, right as kids were outside waiting to head into class. That’s when the coughing kicked in. Students walking in, and even a staff member started hacking nonstop.

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Emergency crews were called in fast. Several kids were given oxygen on the scene, and two were taken to the hospital just to be safe. Thankfully, everyone is okay.

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Sheriff Ryan Robinson said they’ve dumped expired spray in that same wooded spot before without any issues, but this time the wind carried it straight toward the school. So yeah, it was a total accident. From here on out, he says it’ll only be done outside city limits.

The sheriff’s department has since apologized to the school, staff, and families for the scare and disruption.