WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — WFMY News 2 obtained a video involving a pepper spray incident at Flat Rock Middle School in Winston-Salem.
A deputy used the pepper spray to break up a fight during a school dance Friday night.
Parents said they were horrified by the incident, but a former SRO weighed in with an interesting perspective.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said the incident happened during a dance at the middle school Friday night.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said a deputy used pepper spray to break up a fight between students.
The sheriff's office said using pepper spray is a common practice to de-escalate situations in schools. The department started using pepper spray last school year.
A former school resource officer, Marc Ridgill, said there are two ways to break up a fight.
"One is to physically put hands on students, which you would like to avoid if you can, because not only is there a chance they could get hurt, but now you've exposed yourself to physical danger. Pepper spray is a non-lethal irritant that washes off. Its purpose is to get the minds of the combatants off of each other, which it does. And then they're more compliant in leading them to get that irritant off of them," said Ridgill.
The school system told WFMY News 2 there were no injuries during this incident on Friday but some students were treated by medical professionals.
Alicia Kolsun said her 13-year-old son was one of those who was treated.
"He was on the ground at the school on an oxygen tank. That's just not okay, and for that type of punishment to be in the schools without anybody knowing or a parent being in agreement, I don't think it's okay," said Kolsun.
The school system said they have identified the students responsible for the fight and plan to discipline them accordingly.
Depending on the district's determination, the students involved in the middle school fight could face in-school or out-of-school suspension or possibly expulsion.