FAYETTEVILLE — A high school student attending band camp faces possible criminal charges after an apparent prank brought University of Arkansas police, Fayetteville firefighters and area hazardous material crews to a dormitory to investigate a report of a suspicious powder.
Lt. Gary Crain, a spokesman for the university police department, said the student admitted to a counselor he left white powder in an envelope in a janitor’s closet on the fourth floor of Yocum Hall.
“This has caused a big response,” Crain said. “A lot of our emergency services responded needlessly.”
Emergency responders arrived about 1:15 p.m.
Steve Voorhies, university manager of media relations, said 42 campers and university employees were quarantined to the lobby of the building while chemistry professors tested the substance to determine if it was lethal.
Usually the hazardous material team uses testing strips to test for explosives or toxic substances.
A decontamination area was set up outside the building in case the powder was determined to be “volatile.”
Crain said the janitor who found the substance initially reported having respiratory issues, but it was determined that she was hyperventilating.
The camper who pulled the prank eventually admitted the substance was foot powder, Crain said.
“He saved a lot of time and trouble by admitting it,” Crain said. “It could have taken us even longer to test it if he had not come forward.”
The student’s name cannot be released by law because he is a juvenile.
Damian Penrod, a band camp participant from Hackett, said he was on his way back from lunch when he noticed the commotion.
“When I saw the yellow tape and TV cameras, I thought someone had died,” he said. “I was scared it might be one of my friends.”
Penrod is among the 220 campers staying in Yocum Hall this week. Another 260 campers are staying at Pomfret Hall. The weeklong camp started Sunday.
Kaleb Porter of Alma said he was disappointed when he learned the prank had been pulled by a fellow camper.
“Whoever did this needs to get in trouble,” he said. “I think he should go to jail.”
Crain said police will interview the student before they can determine what charges he will face.
Tuesday’s suspicious powder scare was the second such incident reported in the last two months.
On June 13, the Department of Human Services office was evacuated after a similar incident. The substance, which also generated a large response, turned out to be correction fluid that had dried and crumbled inside an envelope.
“We always have to assume it’s a volatile substance,” said Mauro Campos, a battalion chief with the Fayetteville Fire Department.
Voorhies said the campers and employees who were quarantined on Tuesday were eventually released. He said camp activities will continue as scheduled.