Chief Tim Lentz announces that the Covington Police Department, with the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and Covington Fire Department, is currently investigating a suspicious chemical at William Pitcher Jr. High School, 415 S Jefferson Ave. At approximately 2:10 PM, school officials notified a Covington Police school resource officer, assigned to the school, of a student in possession of a bottle containing unknown chemical(s), which was reportedly smoking, and had spilled onto a sidewalk outside.
First, and most importantly, there is NO THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY at this time. The suspicious chemicals have been isolated, and a hazmat crew from the Covington Fire Department is in the process of decontamination.
One male juvenile is currently in Covington Police custody, and criminal charges are pending. As a precautionary measure, eight people were evaluated by emergency medical personnel for chemical exposure, and all refused care.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and the exact chemicals have yet to be determined. Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional details are available at this time. Further updates will be released, as additional information becomes available.
