VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Three Florida students are facing charges after they allegedly poured hot red pepper flakes into their teacher’s can of pop.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, a student was angry about a punishment and retaliated. The incident happened last week and the three 12-year-old girls were arrested on Friday.
The teacher, 52-year-old Jayne Morgan, sent the girl to the office for pouring glue in another student’s backpack and possibly stealing a laptop.
Officials say that student brought red pepper flakes to school and poured a large amount into Morgan’s drink. When she drank the pop, her throat began burning and she began having trouble breathing.
The teacher took another drink before pouring it into a clear cup, which is when she noticed the pepper flakes. She had stomach pain and a scratchy throat for several hours after.
School officials knew which student was to blame, but the Sheriff’s Office found out two other students were involved.
Two students, including the one who planned it, are accused of pouring the flakes into the drink. The third student is accused of distracting the teacher during the incident.
Two are charged with poisoning food or water and tampering with consumer products. The third is charged with tampering with consumer products and being a principal to poisoning food or water. All charges are felonies.
