http://www.lcsun-news.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/137/17110
From Las Cruces Sun-News
News
Origin of Gadsden tear-gas grenade a mystery
By T.S. Hopkins
Jun 25, 2005, 10:11 pm
One question remains after a tear gas grenade was activated Thursday
in the Gadsden Independent School District auto mechanics building by
a school maintenance worker.
Who brought the tear gas device into the building?
“It is such a big mystery,” said Richard Chavez, GISD assistant
superintendent for facilities. “No one has any idea. The maintenance
crew takes inventory every year and cleans the building every year.”
GISD acting superintendent Agueda Mora said the building is an old
Army barracks that the district obtained from Fort Bliss.
No one will be allowed back into the building until it has been
certified as safe, Mora said.
“Sun City Analytical is cleaning out the building,” she said. “When
they certify it is clean, the fire marshal will inspect it before we
can occupy it again.”
New Mexico State Police investigators are searching for more
information on the origin of the grenade that sent employee Peter
Flores, described as being in his mid-30s, to Memorial Medical Center
for treatment of minor injuries.
“Our officers spoke with Mr. Flores,” said state police Lt. Dominic
Pargas. “He admitted he pulled the O-ring because he was curious what
would happen.”
Pargas said Flores was very lucky.
“He was fortunate,” Pargas said. “I don’t think he knew what he had.
If that had been a grenade, it would have been real bad.”
While the auto mechanics building is on the same property as Gadsden
Middle School, there were no students in class at the time the device
discharged. But summer student employees were doing chores in the
building, and one of them was treated for the effects of the tear gas
after complaining of a sore throat.
Eleven people were treated in a decontamination area set up near the
vehicle building by the New Mexico State University Hazardous
Materials Squad. Among them were some clerical staff who rushed to the
building to see about the commotion.
“I have one concern which I will express to the NMSU Fire Department,”
said Mora. “There were no private shower facilities for those women.
They had to be hosed down and disrobe behind blankets and change into
those plastic suits with all those men around.”
NMSU Fire Chief Darrell Smith was aware of the situation.
“I certainly understand their concern,” Smith said. “Our crew went to
great lengths to position the equipment and set up the decontamination
area. We took advantage of blankets the sheriff’s deputies offered to
make the area as private as we could.”
According to school officials, Flores will not be disciplined for his
actions.
“We have bomb drills incorporated in our school safety plan,” said
Mora. “It says if a strange item is spotted, don’t touch it.”
T.S. Hopkins can be reached at
© 2004 Las Cruces Sun-News
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Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul
of the people. On some great and glorious day the
plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron." --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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