Syringe brought to BG school, spokesman says

School officials at Captain Strong Primary School are continuing a probe into the actions of a boy expelled Thursday after he allegedly touched a playmate on the arm with a syringe, according to a media release issued by a Battle Ground schools spokesman.

The boy, a third-grader, told school officials he found the syringe by a dumper near his residence. Most of the needle was broken off, only about 1/16th of an inch remained.

Examinations of the boy who was touched by the syringe found no punctures, marks or redness, according to Gregg Herrington, the district spokesman.

An investigation is ongoing to determine if more students were touched by the needle. A second boy may have been touched in the back by the syringe, but the boy equipped with the needle told the school’s staff it was his fingernails.

The incident happened during recess on Thursday. Herrington later sent out a description of the episode, responding to an inquiry by KOIN TV.

“The boy who brought the syringe to school was placed on emergency expulsion from school,” he wrote. “Teachers will be stressing, again, that syringes are never to be touched, let alone picked up and brought to school.”

The boy who brought the syringe and four others, including the boy touched by it, were questioned by the school’s principal, according to Herrington. A school resource officer from the Battle Ground Police Department was informed about the event.

A message to all parents was sent out today via an automated phone system.