Texas teens charged over ‘fart spray’ prank that sickened fellow students, evacuated school
A pair of Texas teens have been charged with felonies for allegedly unleashing a noxious “fart spray” inside their high school as a prank, sickening students and triggering multiple evacuations earlier this month.
The foul incident took place at Caney Creek High School, 45 miles north of Houston, three weeks ago.
Following an investigation, police arrested David Navarrete-Arce, 17, and Diego Flores, 18, on May 12, charging them with possession of a prohibited weapon – a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to The Courier of Montgomery County.
Both youngsters have since been released on $3,000 bond.
On May 3, a strong gas-like odor was detected at the high school, prompting firefighters to evacuate all students.
Classes resumed the next day, but around noon the school was evacuated a second time due to the same foul odor.
The building remained closed until May 5, when the stomach-turning smell finally dissipated.
School officials said six students were hospitalized after complaining of headaches and nausea. At least eight others reported feeling ill.
Hazardous materials crews spent three days scouring the campus with gas detection equipment but were unable to find any leaks that could explain the stench.
Then one student allegedly confessed to bringing what Carney Creek Fire & Rescue described in a statement as “a highly concentrated prank, stink spray called Hensgaukt Fart Spray.”
The spray is marketed online as a gag toy that “creates a smell like real poo and fake vomit.”
According to an arrest affidavit, police reviewed security footage and saw Navarrete-Arce walking with students around him who can be seen “recoiling and covering their noses and mouths.”
“The video showed Navarrete-Arce appear to drop and pick up an item and shows the item in his hand appeared to be a small spray can,” the document states.
When interviewed by the police, the high school senior allegedly admitted to spraying the chemical in several parts of the school and then handing it to another student, whom he refused to name.
Navarrete-Arce allegedly said Flores had a can of the same spray, which was confiscated by a teacher on the day of the first evacuation.
