PITTSFIELD (AP) – A sixth-grader who was suspended for carrying a dead skunk to Warsaw Middle School and swinging it at other children he approached on the way could face charges of disorderly conduct, police said. The 12-year-old boy came across the dead animal on his way to school Friday and told police he brought it “just to show my friends,” Officer Jeff Vanadestine said.

The boy was bathed in tomato juice at home to try to rid him of the skunk smell, Vanadestine said. “His clothes were ruined. He stunk. The school reeked,” the officer said. En route to school, the boy chased children and swung the skunk at them, said Gregory Kane, Warsaw vice principal.

“I got four or five phone calls from upset parents,” said Kane, who was already aware of the problem because the boy had been sent to his office because of the skunk smell.

Kane said the boy apparently had gotten desensitized to the stench.

“He came in and sat in the principal’s office, and I said, Oh no. Outside.”‘

The boy was sent home on a medical discharge because of the odor and then was given a three-day suspension.

The parents of two girls chased with the whirling skunk want to press charges of disorderly conduct against the boy.

“We are looking into that,” Vanadestine said.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-10-01-05 1133EDT