By IAN BENJAMIN
Executive Editor
Albany police arrested a 15-year-old girl for allegedly throwing liquid bleach into the face of another teen the night of Feb. 15, according to a police department spokesperson.
The suspect, a resident of Livingston Avenue, was with another girl inside the Arbor Hill Public Library’s teen area waiting for her tutor Friday, Feb. 3. The victim, a male, also 15, came into the library and took a seat in close proximity. The girls allegedly proceeded to mock the new arrival’s clothing and general appearance. The suspect then began to use her cellphone to take pictures and video of the victim, according to witnesses. The boy, becoming annoyed at the harassment, knocked the cellphone out of the her hand. The suspect, aggravated by that action, started yelling at the boy and allegedly stated, “you’re going to get the bleach.”
A library employee then approached the girls and requested that they leave the library. Some time after the girls left the library, the victim also exited. Upon leaving the library, the victim was confronted by the two girls. The suspect then threw a bleach-filled Mountain Dew bottle in the boy’s face before running off with her friend.
The victim returned to the library where he was helped by library staff to clean off the bleach and rinse out his eyes with water. He was transported to the Albany Medical Center and promptly diagnosed with chemical conjunctivitis in his right eye, which the hospital stated was liquid bleach. After being treated, the victim was released.
Fortunately for the victim, he did not sustain any permanent damage to his face or eye.
The suspect has been charged with assault in the second degree, and was given an appearance ticket for Albany Family Court.
In a separate incident, authorities broke up a fight between three girls outside the Adult Learning Center on Western Avenue. After the fight, a school official gave an officer a soda bottle filled with bleach that was taken from one of the girls who had been involved in the altercation.
