Man arrested after school visits
A 30-year-old man who was ‘‘under the influence of something’’ has been arrested after he broke into a New Plymouth school’s shed, spilled hydrochloric acid and undressed before walking to another school.
New Plymouth Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) crews were called to Spotswood Primary School around 11.30am yesterday after the caretaker found a 20-litre drum of the chemical spilled at the pool shed.
Fenz central shift manager Mike Wanoa said the acid had covered some items, but no-one had been injured or compromised.
Wanoa said crews had worked to dilute the chemical, which can be used to clean pools.
However, he said it was also a police scene. Originally a police media spokesman said they had been called by the fire crews and it was ‘‘coded as a burglary’’.
However, Sergeant Kane Moses, of New Plymouth, said the man did not appear to have taken anything.
‘‘We don’t really know what his motive was,’’ Moses said. ‘‘He made a bit of a mess.’’
Officers had received a call about a man next door at Spotswood College in ‘‘various states of undress’’.
‘‘He’s under the influence of something.’’
Moses said some of the man’s clothing was left at the primary school and police put two and two together. The 30-year-old was arrested and would appear in court at a later date.
Spotswood Primary School acting principal Rachel Francis said the incident was an ‘‘annoying’’ way to start the school holidays.
‘‘There’s just some damage to the pool shed door and the loss of chemicals we’ll have to replace,’’ Francis said.
‘‘It’s just another little job to fix.
‘‘Schools aren’t made of money.’’