Officer uses pepper spray to break up fight near Baldwin High School

In an attempt to break up a fight between students near Baldwin High School on Friday afternoon, a police officer used pepper spray, Nassau County police said.

A 911 call was made at approximately 1:15 p.m. alerting police to a brawl. According to law enforcement officials, students ignored the officer's commands to stop the altercation. The officer then used OC or pepper spray to break up the fight, a Baldwin School District official said.

According to a school official, Baldwin senior students were participating in senior prank day, an unofficial annual event where students set off "pranks" throughout the school. This year they released crickets in the cafeteria and set off stink bombs. The custodial staff was able to clean up the area shortly after the incident.

Some students eventually made their way to CVS parking lot adjacent to the high school. The school official said that employees at the CVS called the police after an altercation in the parking lot escalated.

The incident is under investigation, police said.