Two Women Arrested After Pepper Spray Prompts Quincy College Hazmat Incident

QUINCY (CBS) – Two women were arrested Wednesday as police say they used a can of pepper spray inside a Quincy College student lounge, forcing a hazmat response and two hospitalizations.

Police closed Hancock Street surrounding the Presidents Place building while they investigated around 6 p.m. Evening classes were canceled for maintenance in the building.

Six people in the student lounge said they started to cough uncontrollably due to some sort of fumes.

On Thursday, Quincy Police announced the arrest of 18-year-old Hannah Craig and 19-year-old Samani Freeman.

Police viewed surveillance footage from the third floor. It allegedly shows Craig and Freeman using a can of pepper spray in the lounge area. A can of pepper spray was seized as evidence.

They are charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, disturbance of school or public meeting, noxious substance in a building and disorderly conduct.

All buildings on campus were open as scheduled Thursday.

"We are cooperating with, and would like to thank the Quincy Fire Department, the Quincy Police Department, and the Boston Fire Department for their prompt and thorough investigation. As always, the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is our number one priority, and we appreciate the support of all of those in our community," the school said in a statement.

Craig and Freeman's lawyers acknowledged that the women were involved in the incident, but said they had no malicious intent.