Police: Two Juveniles Dispersed Pepper Spray at BCC Campus

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Police are seeking charges against two juveniles in connection with Thursday’s incident at Bristol Community College’s downtown campus, which prompted a hazmat response and closed down both the BCC building and city streets in the immediate area.

Students and staff were affected by a previously unidentified odor Thursday morning, November 21. According to Bristol Community College, about 20 students and employees were affected by what police are now saying was pepper spray allegedly dispersed by the two juveniles within the building at 800 Purchase Street.

Police say the two juveniles are students at the City on a Hill Charter School in New Bedford. They will be charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace of a school, and possession of mace under the age of 18. Their names are being withheld because they are juveniles.

The New Bedford Police Department, the Bristol Community College Campus Police Department, the New Bedford Fire Department, the New Bedford Emergency Management Office, New Bedford EMS, and the state Fire Marshal Regional Haz-Mat Unit were all involved in the response and investigation.