A Kansas City apartment building had to be ventilated Thursday after someone sprayed pepper spray on multiple floors, sending many residents outside for evaluation while others sheltered in place. Firefighters were called to 301 W. Armour Blvd. just before 10 a.m. on reports of a hazmat incident, and by late morning one man had been taken into custody for further questioning.
According to KMBC, Kansas City Fire Department officials said someone sprayed large amounts of pepper spray across multiple floors of the building. Crews responded to the hazmat call at the Armour Boulevard address and worked to figure out how widely the irritant had spread through the structure.
Fans Deployed to Clear the Air
The fire department ventilated the building using fans to clear the air once crews arrived. Many occupants were taken outside of the apartment building for evaluation, though KCFD officials said the majority of residents were able to shelter in place rather than evacuate entirely.
As of 11:15 a.m., no one had been taken to the hospital. Officers with the Kansas City Police Department assisted fire crews at the scene as the response unfolded.
One Man Detained for Questioning
Police said one man was taken into custody for further questioning in connection with the incident.
Pepper spray can cause a burning sensation, discomfort and temporary blindness when it gets directly into someone's eyes, and it can also affect the lungs and cause shortness of breath. Inside a confined space like an apartment building, the mist can linger in the air and irritate everyone nearby rather than dissipating quickly outdoors.
Pepper spray is a form of oleoresin capsicum, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies as a riot-control agent also used for personal protection. The effects depend on the amount, duration and setting of exposure. The CDC warns that high doses or prolonged exposure can cause severe effects, and that longer-term problems such as breathing difficulties are more likely after exposure in a closed space.
The Armour Boulevard response comes months after a separate pepper spray incident at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games in Overland Park, where police said two juveniles used pepper spray during a disturbance in April. That case involved a different setting entirely, but it underscores how an irritant meant to incapacitate one person can end up affecting a much larger group when deployed in close quarters.
