KALAMAZOO, MI

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student may face criminal charges from a Nov. 5 incident in which a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer used pepper spray to break up a fight in a hallway, according to Public Safety.

Five students affected by the spray received first-aid treatment at the school, said Alex Lee, spokesman for Kalamazoo Public Schools.

Loy Norrix High School

The incident occurred when a fight broke out in a hallway and Officer Jon Halder, the school's police liaison officer, intervened, Public Safety Assistant Chief Donald Webster said.

"One of the kids turned on (Halder) and he had to use his pepper spray," Webster said.

However, a crowd had gather to watch the fight and other kids were trapped by the crowd, which means a number of students were affected by the chemicals, which are best known name by the brand name of Mace.

"He shot the spray at an individual, but it dispersed" to others on the scene, Webster said.

The student who sparked the use of the pepper spray was arrested and could face charges of resisting or assaulting an officer, Webster said. He did not know the name or age of the boy.

Lee said that both students involved in the fight were suspended and will go through the expulsion process.

Webster said that Halder's actions were "appropriate" considering the circumstances.

"It's nothing we want to do in a closed building," Webster said about pepper spray, but officers are instructed to use pepper spray when a situation calls for it.

Webster said he can't remember the last time he heard of pepper spray being used in a school. "It doesn't happen very often at all," he said.

Julie Mack covers K-12 education and writes a column for Kalamazoo Gazette. Email her at jmack1@mlive.com, call her at 269-350-0277 or follow her on Twitter

at kzjuliemack.