Four Pekin High School Students Suspended For Having Energy Mints

PEKIN -- Four Pekin high school students are suspended after eating energy mints at lunch.

Junior Eric McMichael said, "People bring energy drinks to school everyday. I see this everyday and we get in trouble for energy mints?"

The seventeen-year-old has never been to the Dean's office, until now. He said, "A combined total of missed days, I have probably three days, that's it. No getting in trouble, I go to church, I don't do this stuff."

On Wednesday McMichael and three other friends said they were questioned after ingesting a Revive energy mint at lunch.

Eric's dad Jason said he got a phone call from the school, telling him his son had an alleged controlled substance.

Jason McMichael said, "My next question to him was, is the substance they took illegal? He said no, they are not illegal but not having the wrapper, not knowing what it is , we're taking safety precautions."

He said the school questioned the boys and sent them to the nurse's office, before sending them home.

"My first issue is obviously the safety factor, if they truly believed they took something illegal they should have took the necessary actions which would have backed up their beliefs. I'd have no leg to stand on. I get it. The fact they didn't do that to me is an emission of harassment. I believe they are being harassed for passing out candy during lunch hour," McMichael said.  

McMichael said this case has gone too far. He said he just wants the school to wipe the offense off the boys' record and let them get back to class.

As for Eric, he says it just wants an apology. "This is not fair, that we're basically not going to school because of a mint when kids at school right now are probably doing drugs right now in the bathroom."

McMichael said the school has notified him that its determined the energy mint is not a drug, but the boys will still be facing penalities.

Pekin High School did not return our calls.