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Pregnant Student Hospitalized After Pepper Spray Incident Speaks Out

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- New details are being released about the pepper spray incident at a Baltimore County high school that sent as many as 16 kids to the hospital.

Derek Valcourt has reaction from one of the hospitalized students and more on what happened at the school.

It was a fight that caused police to use the pepper spray. Two students have been charged but some parents aren't too happy with the way the situation was handled.

When a school police officer used pepper spray at Chesapeake High School Tuesday, several students in the school got sick---including a pregnant Danielle Nicholson.

"My throat was closing up and my eyes were starting to water and I was getting hazy and a little dizzy," she said.

She and as many as 15 other students had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Police released new details, saying it all started when two students wouldn't stop fighting, even after the officer and a teacher physically tried to break up the fight.

"Our officer continued to struggle on the ground with one of the students as he continued to resist arrest. The student was able to stand up after several minutes. The officer warned him that pepper spray was going to be used if there was additional violence and then the student attempted to go after the first student again," said Baltimore County Police Detective Cathy Batton.

Police say their officer is justified to use the pepper spray. Students were temporarily evacuated while the school was aired out.

"As a parent, I'm scared for my child and the other children," said Michele Florane, Danielle's mom.

Florane is one of several parents upset with how the situation was handled. Many parents complain fights are a frequent problem at the school.

"It's really upsetting to me. It is to the point where I'm going to pull her out on maternity leave and I'm not sure she's going back to that school," Florane said.

Police say the two students involved in the fight now face juvenile charges, one of them for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Students report there were no fights at the school Wednesday and say there were extra officers and staff on hand at the school.

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