Pepper spray used to stop fight at Von Steuben Middle School in Peoria

PEORIA – Parents are upset that pepper spray was used to defuse a lunch-time melee at Von Steuben Middle School. 

School resource officers are authorized to use pepper spray in certain situations, said Haleemah Na'Allah, director of communications for Peoria Public Schools. 

“In severe situations like this, our officers are authorized to use pepper spray to halt the violence quickly and effectively," she said. 

Lack of parent notification

Jamie Watson, who has two daughters at the school, was most upset about not being notified. A text sent by the district shortly after lunch announced that after-school activities had been canceled, but did not say why. Watson didn’t find out about the fight until she picked up her daughters at the end of the school day. 

“My seventh grader got in the car and she was just hysterical,” Watson said. “They were pepper sprayed, they were locked in the lunchroom, they couldn’t leave. She saw this kid she knows get knocked out. He was on the ground with his eyes rolled back.” 

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The incident occurred during 7^th and 8^th grade lunch when children were gathered in the cafeteria. Multiple fights broke out throughout the day at the school. 

Watson’s oldest daughter saw the pepper spray dispensed. She thought it was deployed by a Peoria police officer, but PPS spokesperson Semone Roth said no police action or force was used by the single officer who responded to the fight. 

Several videos of the cafeteria fight were circulated on the internet Thursday evening, and a long discussion ensued on the East Bluff News Facebook page. Many parents defended teachers and staff members at the school, and some decried the lack of discipline some children are getting at home.

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Discipline, counseling and excused absences

Through a combination of video evidence and teacher witnesses, the responsible students were identified and will be disciplined, said Na'Allah. Additional security and guidance counselors were provided at the school, and excused absences were granted for students who didn't want to immediately return to school.

Watson said she gave her daughters the option of staying home on Friday, but both chose to return to school.  

“My fifth grader had a test, and my seventh grader wanted to go because her friends were going and she didn't want them to be alone.” 

Leslie Renken can be reached at (309) 370-5087 or lrenken@pjstar.com. Follow her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.