A teaching assistant in South Carolina was arrested and charged for allegedly using "poop spray" at a high school, resulting in children requiring medical attention and thousands of dollars worth of damage to the school, authorities say.

Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis, 32, was arrested by the Florence County Sheriff's Office on Friday, Sept. 19 for allegedly spraying an internet-acquired spray designed to imitate fecal order at West Florence High School in South Carolina, according to a Florence County Sheriff's Office news release. He has been charged with disturbing schools and malicious injury to property.

$55,000 for inspection and damage to school's AC

Lewis allegedly used the spray between Aug. 25 and Sept. 19, which resulted in disruption at the school, and multiple children requiring medical attention for respiratory issues, according to the news release. The school district also incurred more than $55,000 for inspection and damage to the high school's air conditioning system.

Lewis was taken to the Florence County Detention Center but was released on Saturday, Sept. 20, a Florence County Detention Center employee told USA TODAY on Sept. 22.

Florence 1 Schools did not immediately respond for comment about Lewis' arrest when contacted by USA TODAY on Sept. 22.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teaching assistant charged for damaging school AC unit with 'poop spray,' authorities say

Reporting by Greta Cross, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect