WARREN Pupil faces hearing over tablets in coffee

The girl has been suspended for one to 10 days.
By PEGGY SINKOVICHand AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Officials of Warren City Schools are investigating a report that a female pupil at Turner Middle School placed three white tablets in a teacher's coffee cup.
Bill Carnahan, schools security chief, called the matter "nothing major," and said the pupil has been suspended for one to 10 days, pending a hearing on expulsion.
In addition, Carnahan said he talked to the Trumbull County juvenile prosecutor, and the pupil has been charged with a count of disorderly conduct.
The pupil is expected to appear in county juvenile court sometime next week.
Carnahan interviewed the girl, along with six other pupils, this morning. The other pupils said they witnessed the fifth-grade girl putting the pills in the cup of coffee.
The teacher was in the hall when the tablets were put into the coffee, Carnahan said.
Substance: Officials don't think the tablets were poisonous, noting that the girl said the pills were tablets of Equal, a sugar substitute.
A small container of Equal tablets was recovered under papers in the pupil's desk.
The tablets found in the girl's desk were entered into evidence and will be turned over to the city police department for analysis, Carnahan said.
Carnahan said the girl told officials that she put the pills in the teacher's cup.
"She couldn't really tell me why she did it," Carnahan said.
The teacher, who is not being identified, took a sip of the coffee. He said the teacher was considering going to the hospital to be checked.