Video: Mom accused of spraying mace in elementary school principal's face while trying to enter building

The mother of an Ohio elementary school student is accused of spraying mace in the principal's face while trying to gain entry to the building earlier this week, WKYC-TV reported.

What are the details?

The principal of Hamilton Elementary School in Elyria on Tuesday morning told arriving police he was greeting students in a hallway when he noticed a female parent yelling obscenities at the assistant principal and another administrator at a side entrance, the station said.

The female assistant principal was trying to prevent the parent from entering the school, WKYC added. The side entrance in question is an “unauthorized doorway," the Kansas City Star said, citing a police report.

The principal approached the scene and recognized the parent as Jessica Houze, who allegedly continued yelling obscenities at the principal and stated "that's the guy I want," the station said.

As the principal pulled the side doors shut to prevent her from entering, Houze allegedly sprayed the principal in the face with the mace before leaving the area, WKYC reported.

While they were on the scene, officers saw that the principal still was dealing with the effects of mace, the station said, adding that police confirmed that no school official touched or pushed Houze.

What happened next?

Nearly two hours after the incident — approximately 10:45 a.m. — Houze turned herself in to Elyria police, WKYC reported.

She was charged with assault of a school officer and criminal trespass, the station said. House also was charged with attempted assault for swinging her hand with the mace and pointing it at the assistant principal, who is seven months pregnant, WKYC said.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters underneath the Star story that was published by Yahoo News were not pleased with the accused parent:

• "This is one of the reasons I NEVER have conferences with parents alone," one commenter wrote. "My 6th-grade team holds conferences together...for our safety. We also ALWAYS have our phones with us during conferences with parents so we can call 911 if needed. I'm so glad that I'm closer to the end of my teaching career, not at the beginning of it. I would not recommend anyone go into the teaching profession."
• "Sixty days in lock up and anger management classes after a psychiatric exam," another commenter suggested. "My niece was a teacher, and she went thru a situation similar. She was struck multiple times, and the principal did absolutely nothing. HE should have been fired and not rehired until he took some training. Educators must be protected, or we will lose them. They are too precious to lose."
• "She is teaching her children to solve their problems and disagreements with violence," another commenter said. "She is the problem."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!