Update: LRPD uses pepper spray to disperse crowd of students watching fight. Again.

Arkansas Times · Milo Strain · September 8, 2026

This story has been updated to include a statement from LRSD spokesperson Pam Smith

The Little Rock Police Department once again used pepper spray to stop a fight and disperse a crowd of onlookers at Central High School on Friday, according to a statement Central High School Principal April Rike sent to parents.

“We are sending you this message to inform you of a fight involving five students today that resulted in a large crowd of students gathering to watch,” the message read.

Little Rock police spokesperson Mark Edwards told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that multiple students were arrested, but he declined to give any additional details.

Rike told parents that police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and that several students who complained of being affected by the spray were treated by the school nurse. The day continued as usual after.

Following a similar incident in August 2025, the Little Rock school board reviewed the district’s pepper spray policy and questioned a representative from the Little Rock Police Department .

The exchange turned tense at times, and LRPD Assistant Chief Andre Dyer doubled down on the department’s use of pepper spray against schoolchildren.

Little Rock school board members did not respond to an email asking if they would be reviewing the district’s pepper spray policies again in light of Friday’s incident. LRSD spokesperson Pam Smith did not respond to an email asking for any additional details about the Friday incident and whether the school board would take up the issue again.

Update: Smith responded Tuesday evening and said LRSD’s director of safety and security is reviewing the matter and plans to follow up during the upcoming special meeting on Thursday .

Pepper spray is a chemical weapon considered to be nonlethal by law enforcement agencies, though there have been rare recorded instances of people dying after exposure to pepper spray . There are a variety of sprays on the market with different active ingredients and delivery mechanisms including aerosol sprays, liquid streams, gels and fog. Little Rock police officers carry an aerosol cone spray containing oleoresin capsicum, an oily resin extracted from cayenne peppers.

Read the full story at Arkansas Times