WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Some WS/FCS parents believe there was too much force used on middle school students.
The district said an incident happened during a dance at Flat Rock Middle School on the night of Friday, May 3.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said a deputy used pepper spray to break up a fight among students.
"This is the memory that she has, the memory of having to help her fellow students get out of the gym. The memory of having milk poured all over your face to try and stop the burning of your face and eyes," Rejeana Ellis said.
Ellis said her granddaughter is traumatized and she wasn't the only guardian frustrated by the turn of events.
"This should've never happened, one of the teachers were pepper sprayed as well. She had actually had gotten into the middle of it," Sarah Cole said.
She said her daughter called her while she was outside waiting to pick her up. Cole said the fight happened a few minutes before the end of the dance.
"She was shaking, she was overwhelmed, it was just too much," Cole recalled, "There's a lot of kids that went through that and they have no idea how to react."
The sheriff's office said using pepper spray is a common practice to de-escalate situations in schools. It started using pepper spray last school year.
WS/FCS said they have identified the students responsible and plan to discipline them in accordance with the code of character.
WS/FCS statement in full:
"We did have a student disturbance during a dance last evening. We have identified the students responsible and they will be disciplined in accordance with the Code of Character. My understanding is there were no injuries from the disturbance but some students were treated by medical professionals for the effects of the pepper spray fogger. You may recall, the use of foggers is not new, the FCSO made the decision to use them starting last school year. If you need more on that you will need to reach out to them, we do not control what officers do and why. "
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office statement in full:
"OC spray is a tool that School Resource Officers (SRO) can use to de-escalate altercations within our schools. Prior to the use of OC spray, Deputies give commands to break up the altercation, or OC will be deployed. If they do not heed the warning by the deputy, OC spray is then deployed. The use of OC spray is a minimal use of force that does not require our deputies to physically intervene to break up an altercation. OC spray allows deputies to safely intervene, where by preventing the least amount of physical harm to the students as well as the deputies. It is our goal to ensure our schools are a place where all students can grow and learn in the safest manner possible."
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