Student had stun device on school bus
December 6, 2007
A student with an electronic shocking device, described as an home-made taser, was caught displaying it to other students while riding Wentzville School District Bus 44 to Frontier Middle School on Friday, November 30
The device, which used AA batteries, was considered low voltage. Phil Ragusky, Principal of Frontier Middle School, reportedly tested the device on his arm and experienced a slight reaction.
A home-made electrical shock device does not have to be an advanced design to be dangerous. At least one other case of a high school student making a home-made shock device has been reported. In 2005, a student in Maine faced charges after they were found to be using the shock prod on themselves and other students.
These devices were made from common components of a camera that can generate up to a reported 700 volts. This high voltage is obtained from just a few AA batteries.
A commercially available stun device can deliver a shock with up to 18 amperes of current. While the specifics of the device found on Bus 44 are unknown, a current of over 10 milliamperes is considered potentially lethal to humans.
Only parents whose children were assigned to Bus 44 were sent a letter explaining the situation. Assistant Principal, Rebekkah Montes-Trevena, told concerned parents that no one was injured and no one was considered to be in any danger.
Montes-Trevena said that the school has taken disciplinary action against the student but did not specify what action, and she would not give the student’s name. Due to privacy policies, the district could not release information on the student.
Copyright 2007 Neighbors About Town