Latest news with #pepper spray
Al Jazeera
23-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
GHF security guard details abuses he witnessed at Gaza ‘aid sites'
GHF security guard details abuses he witnessed at Gaza 'aid sites' NewsFeed A former security guard who worked at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation 'aid distribution sites' described to Israeli media abuses he witnessed firsthand, including the potentially lethal use of pepper spray and tear gas. Video Duration 01 minutes 17 seconds 01:17 Video Duration 03 minutes 07 seconds 03:07 Video Duration 00 minutes 54 seconds 00:54 Video Duration 03 minutes 18 seconds 03:18 Video Duration 00 minutes 40 seconds 00:40 Video Duration 03 minutes 00 seconds 03:00 Video Duration 01 minutes 39 seconds 01:39
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Pensioner accidentally pepper sprays entire spa, injuring 13 people
An 80-year-old woman is being investigated by police after accidentally letting off pepper spray in a spa in Germany. At around 9.50am on Wednesday, the pensioner began rummaging through her handbag in the entrance of the Keidel Thermal Baths in Freiburg, a city in southwest Germany's Black Forest region. According to local media, she wanted to show the spray to a friend. Instead, she accidentally activated the spray, releasing the toxic substance throughout the foyer. The irritant then reportedly spread throughout the building through the ventilation system. Thirteen visitors to the thermal baths were affected by the incident and complained of eye irritation. Emergency services, including police and fire personnel, attended the scene and treated the injured. According to BILD, the pensioner was one of those injured. The entire pool was evacuated for around 30 minutes for safety reasons, while the entrance area was mechanically ventilated by emergency services, before guests were allowed to return. The 80-year-old is reportedly being investigated for negligent bodily harm. In a statement to The Independent, Oliver Heintz, director of Keidel Mineral-Thermalbad, said:'We regret the incident and the inconvenience caused to our guests. 'The situation was handled quickly and professionally by our team and the emergency services. 'We are in close contact with the authorities and will take the necessary steps to support a thorough clarification.' The Independent has contacted local police for further comment. Pepper spray is a non-lethal self-defence tool made from oleoresin capsicum (OC), a chemical derived from hot chilli peppers. It causes a severe burning sensation in the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, leading to temporary blindness, coughing, difficulty breathing and intense pain. Pepper spray is illegal to buy, sell or carry in the UK and is classed as an offensive weapon. In Germany, however, pepper spray is legal for use against animals and people 'in self-defence situations' and can be purchased by people as young as 14 years old. In 2023, an American Airlines flight was forced to land more than 800 miles from its destination after a passenger released pepper spray into the cabin. The incident was described by one passenger as 'incredibly scary not being able to breathe'. According to the US Transportation Security Administration, pepper spray is not allowed in carry-on bags.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- RNZ News
Family of man who died after being pepper sprayed seeks answers
An image of Caleb Moefa'auo positioned in the witness box. Photo: RNZ/Felix Walton The family of a man who died after he was pepper sprayed at Auckland's Mt Eden Corrections Facility in 2022 are seeking answers at a coronial inquest this week. The first part of an inquest into the death of 26-year-old Caleb Moefa'auo began on Monday with a prayer led by his grandfather. "Hopefully this inquest will give us the wisdom and understanding through our discussion and deliberation so at the end of the day, Caleb's passing is used to maybe somehow change the system so it won't happen to the future generations of this country," he said. Moefa'auo's immediate and extended family filled the public gallery, wearing shirts and badges in his memory. Caleb Moefa'auo died on 5 April 2022 from a cardiac arrest shortly after he was pepper sprayed by an officer at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility. He had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was staying at Tiaho Mai, a residential unit to support people with mental health issues, after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and shoplifting in June of 2021. In December of 2021 he was sent to Mt Eden Corrections Facility after allegedly assaulting a fellow patient at Tiaho Mai, and he was later found to be at risk of self harm and placed in the Intervention and Support Unit. The lawyer assisting the coroner, Rebekah Jordan, outlined the facts of the case. "On the morning of the 5th of April 2022, Caleb had a shower. "Once out he used three towels to dry himself with. After taking a fourth towel, an acting senior corrections officer left the staff base and approached Caleb while holding a can of pepper spray. Caleb was told to pass the towel to one of the other corrections officers, which he did," she said. "Caleb was then directed to get on his knees, which he started to do before standing back up, when the acting senior corrections officer shouted at him. [The officer] then deployed pepper spray as Caleb backed away." "Caleb was clearly affected by the pepper spray. A number of officers restrained Caleb on the ground and placed him in handcuffs... While this was happening Caleb repeatedly apologised and made the first of a number of comments that he could not breathe." Jordan said that Moefa'auo claimed he could not breathe 11 times as officers took him outside to be decontaminated. He was then taken back to his cell and forced to the floor, where he stopped responding. The prison officer who sprayed Caleb Moefa'auo was charged with assault but found not guilty by a jury. The jury was not told that Moefa'auo had died, as the fact was deemed prejudicial. Moefa'auo's family became emotional as Jordan recounted the events of his death. Caleb's mother Justine Moefa'auo explained to Coroner McKenzie why the family had sought an inquest. "To us Caleb was not a criminal, he was unwell and in crisis. From what we've seen and understand, Caleb was not acting aggressively. He was distressed, not violent," she said. "We have serious concerns about the use of pepper spray on someone experiencing a mental health crisis. It's use in confined spaces, especially on a vulnerable person already in distress carries real risk. "We hope the coroner may consider whether current policies and training on the use of pepper spray for mentally unwell individuals are adequate to protect their safety and dignity. "We would like to see better access to appropriate mental health facilities, more training for staff in both health and custodial settings, and a stronger, more responsive system that supports people before they fall through the cracks." The first phase of the inquest continues this week with a focus on Department of Corrections' policies and training. It will be followed with a second phase in November with evidence from the officers involved. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Gun pulled during argument at Downtown Pittsburgh DMV
Channel 11 obtained a photo of a woman who witnessed say pulled out a gun after an argument inside the DMV on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh. Police tell Channel 11 there was an argument between two families inside the waiting center. The witness told us they began screaming at each other, and one of the families took out pepper spray. That's when he said the other woman took out a gun. The argument spilled out onto the sidewalk, then both families went their separate ways. One person had a minor scratch on their head. 'All I saw was a hand and a gun and hit somebody's face. As soon as I saw the gun, I ran into into the bathroom,' Muchael Wlazlinksi told Channel 11. Neither family wanted to pursue charges, and police did not take anyone into custody. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man who pepper-sprayed mom and baby on Queens subway held on $50K bail
The man who allegedly pepper-sprayed a young mother and her baby on an M train in Queens will remain behind bars until he posts bail, authorities said. Cops arrested Edward Vargas, 34, on Thursday. He is accused of dousing a 25-year-old woman and her 11-month-old baby girl with pepper spray, hitting them in the face and arm, last Friday on a southbound M train as the train approached the Court Square-23rd St. station in Long Island City, police said. 'It is particularly outrageous when our children are attacked,' Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. 'As alleged, the defendant chose to retaliate against the victims with pepper spray because he did not get what he wanted. Families have every right to use the subway safely without fear of random violence.' The young woman told police that that Vargas approached her when she was holding her daughter waiting for the train at the 36th St. M and R subway station and asked to borrow her cellphone, according to the criminal complaint against him. But when the woman ignored him, Vargas followed her onto the train and sat right across from her and her baby before pulling a pepper-spray canister from a black bag and spraying her and her little girl with the noxious substance, causing the baby to cry, the complaint states. Afterward, mother and child were left with a burning sensation to the eyes, difficulty breathing and skin irritation, according to the complaint. Vargas, who lives in Astoria, was charged with two counts of assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. A judge ordered him held on $50,000 cash bail and $150,000 bond. His next court appearance is July 1. In other recent subway mayhem, a man arrested for allegedly trying to kiss a female straphanger's toes while exposing himself at a Greenwich Village subway station was released one day after being nabbed by police. Dexter Betancourt, 37, was granted supervised release after the offenses were deemed not bail eligible.
