Police said bear spray was used inside a lower Manhattan hotel after a dispute, sending seven people to be hurt and two to be hospitalized while guests were evacuated from the DoubleTree by Hilton near Broadway and Stone Street.
When bear spray was released inside a lower Manhattan hotel, the morning routine for guests turned into an evacuation. The New York Police Department urged the public to avoid the DoubleTree by Hilton near Broadway and Stone Street after officers began investigating what they described as the use of bear spray inside the building.
The department posted at 8:39 a.m. on Monday, June 29, advising people to stay away from the hotel. Officers said they were “looking into the use of bear spray inside a hotel after a dispute,” and added that “guests have been evacuated from inside the building,” according to the NYPD’s post.
CBS News, citing the NYPD, reported that seven people were hurt and two were hospitalized. Detectives were expected to review surveillance footage to identify the woman they believe sprayed the chemicals into the hotel’s HVAC system.
The incident has also raised questions about the responsibility and communication lines around the property. In an email, Hilton Hotels said the affected DoubleTree is “independently owned and operated,” which meant the company said it was unable to comment on the hotel’s behalf.
For police, the next steps are likely to hinge on what the footage shows and where the spray was introduced. The key detail is that officers believe the bear spray was released into the HVAC system—an action that can spread irritants through air circulation. turning a dispute into something far harder to contain.
The sequence of events matters beyond the hotel’s walls: the spray led to multiple injuries. two hospitalizations. and the evacuation of guests early on Monday. With officers set to comb surveillance video for the suspect. the investigation now centers on both the confrontation that preceded the spraying and the method used to deliver the chemicals into the building’s ventilation.
Bear spray is typically intended as a deterrent for wildlife and is commonly made with red pepper oil. according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. When sprayed, it inflames the eyes and upper respiratory system. The department also says users should “treat bear spray like a firearm. ” warning it can come out at more than 70 mph and could cause permanent eye damage. It further advises that bear spray be kept away from extreme temperatures—heat of 120 degrees and cold of -7 degrees—because the canister can fail to spray properly or even explode under extreme heat.
In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency regulates bear spray as a pesticide. Under labeling rules, it is a federal offense to use the product in a way that conflicts with its instructions. Because it is explicitly labeled “not for use on humans,” spraying a person violates federal guidelines.
As police work to identify the woman they believe carried out the spraying, the immediate impact is already clear in the wake of the Monday morning evacuation: injuries, hospital care for two people, and an investigation focused on how a wildlife deterrent ended up in a hotel air system.
bear spray NYPD DoubleTree by Hilton lower Manhattan HVAC system evacuation hospitalizations pesticide regulation Environmental Protection Agency
Bear spray inside a hotel?? Like what is happening to people.
So they sprayed the HVAC and people got hurt? I mean, that seems like someone wanted max damage, not just “spray and go.” Bet the hotel knew something too.
I read it wrong at first and thought they used actual bears outside near Broadway lol. But if it went through the HVAC then why would the ventilation even be running like that in the morning? Seems sketchy. Also how did two people end up hospitalized like immediately?
Independently owned and operated… so Hilton’s just like “not our problem” vibes. But also police are “looking into” who did it from surveillance, so meanwhile everyone else is paying the price. Feels like there’s always some communication line mess in NYC, like nobody coordinates until after someone gets hurt.