U.S.

3 Fla. middle school girls arrested for poisoning teacher

/ CBS/AP

DELTONA -- Three middle school students in Volusia County are facing felony charges for allegedly putting red pepper flakes into their teacher's soda.

Deputies said it happened after a 12-year-old girl was upset about being disciplined by teacher Jayne Morgan, reports CBS Miami.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports the girls were arrested Friday night.

Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson says the day after the girl was disciplined, she brought the crushed red pepper from home and grabbed Morgan's open can of soda.

Davidson says a second girl poured the pepper into the can while the third girl distracted Morgan.

When Morgan took a drink, she began choking and experienced shortness of breath. She discovered the pepper flakes when she poured the soda into a clear cup.

The girls were arrested Friday and taken to a juvenile detention center. They face poisoning charges, as well as tampering with consumer products.

First published on February 28, 2016 / 8:27 AM EST

© 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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