Student Arrested After Bear Spray Incident at Nanaimo High School

Local authorities have opened an investigation into a weapon-related incident at a Nanaimo high school after a dispute between two students ended with bear spray being deployed on campus.

The incident occurred during the lunch break on Wednesday afternoon, October 14, at a local high school. According to the Nanaimo RCMP, two 15-year-old students attending the school got into an argument that quickly escalated when one of the youths sprayed the other with a burst of bear deterrent.

School administrators and RCMP Youth Liaison Officers responded immediately to control the situation and secure the area. The youth responsible for using the spray was taken into custody and faces charges of Assault with a Weapon. Police confirmed that the student who was targeted did not require medical attention following the exposure.

Addressing the severity of the situation, Inspector Donovan Tait, Operations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP, emphasized that bear spray is strictly intended for wildlife protection and should never be used as a personal weapon. Police warned that carrying or deploying commercial animal repellents against individuals is an illegal act that carries significant legal consequences and potential criminal charges for young people.

The Nanaimo RCMP confirmed that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the altercation remains ongoing.