South Carolina Teacher Arrested for Spraying “Poop Spray” That Caused Chaos, Illness, and $55,000 in School Damages
It is the kind of story that makes you shake your head and wonder how something like this could happen inside a school. In Florence County, South Carolina, a teaching assistant named Alexander Lewis, just 32 years old, is now sitting in custody after being arrested for one of the strangest and most disruptive incidents a school community has seen in a long time. Authorities say that between August 25 and September 19, Lewis repeatedly sprayed a chemical product known as “poop spray” inside West Florence High School. It was not just a silly prank. This spray, which can be bought online, is designed to smell like human waste. Students and staff were overwhelmed by the odor, some reporting breathing issues, while classes across the building were disrupted by the unbearable stench.
What began as confusion quickly turned into a full-scale disruption. Teachers struggled to carry on with lessons, students were distracted and in some cases sent to the nurse’s office, and administrators had to call in professionals to figure out what was happening. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that several students even sought medical attention for respiratory complaints connected to the repeated spraying. Parents were notified, frustrations grew, and soon investigators tracked the source back to Lewis.
The damage was not only to health and learning but also financial. Reports say the school district has spent around $55,000 to clean and repair the air conditioning system, which had been affected by the odor circulating through the building. That money came directly from school resources that could have gone to textbooks, technology, or other student needs. Instead, it was spent because of a reckless decision that went far beyond a harmless joke.
Lewis has been officially charged with disturbing schools and malicious injury to property. These are not small accusations. Disturbing schools is considered a serious offense in South Carolina because of the importance of protecting a safe and healthy learning environment. Malicious injury to property adds another layer, reflecting the financial damage and costly repairs the district now faces.
As of now, Lewis remains in custody awaiting bond, and parents and students are left wondering how someone entrusted to help in a classroom could cause so much harm. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has stressed that this is not something they take lightly. School is supposed to be a safe place where kids focus on learning, not on breathing through their shirts or worrying about strange chemical sprays.
Stories like this are shocking because they highlight just how fragile that sense of safety can be. A single poor decision, repeated over and over, created health scares, wasted money, and broke trust within a community. Many are asking questions about how staff are vetted, what safeguards exist, and what more can be done to ensure nothing like this happens again.
For now, the case stands as a reminder that even the smallest actions can have enormous consequences. What may have started as a prank ended with criminal charges, financial loss, and national headlines. And for the students and teachers of West Florence High School, it is an experience they will likely never forget.
