3 Catskills Students Accused Of Causing Toxic Fumes In School Bathroom

CATSKILL, NY — Three Catskill middle schoolers were accused of putting lithium from batteries into a school toilet, causing the release of toxic fumes.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that sheriff’s deputies, the Village of Catskill Police Department and the Catskill Fire Department were sent to the Catskill Middle School Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. for a report of some type of smoke in one of the bathrooms.

An investigation found that some students had placed lithium from common household batteries into a toilet, causing a chemical reaction that damaged the toilet and released toxic fumes, law enforcement said.

Three students — a 13-year-old and two 12-year-olds — were arrested, police said.

They were issued Family Court Appearance tickets relating to the following charges:

• Second-degree arson
• Third-degree criminal mischief
• Fourth-degree conspiracy
• Second-degree reckless endangerment
• Unlawful possession of a noxious material

The arson, criminal mischief and conspiracy charges are designated felonies; the other two are misdemeanors.

After being processed, the children were released to the custody of their parents.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 518-943-3300 or the Village of Catskill Police Department at 518-943-2244.

Catskills Superintendent of Schools Melissa Barrow said, in a message to the community, that the district takes the matter very seriously and that the safety and security of the students and staff are of the utmost importance.

“The [chemical] reaction was contained to the toilet and students and staff were never in any danger,” she said. “Staff closed off the bathroom and opened the window to let the room air out, and we notified police and fire services, who responded to the middle school as a precaution.”

Other than closing the bathroom, Barrow said that the incident did not cause a disruption to the school day.

She added that the student will be handled according to the district’s code of conduct.