Bristol police are investigating a bizarre case of vandalism — and possibly assault — against the principal of Mt. Hope High School.

At around 5:45 a.m. last Thursday, Dec. 1, police received a call from high school principal Margaret Vendituoli-Ferreira, who said several objects had been thrown through a first-floor bedroom window of her Aaron Avenue home. Upon arrival, police found a rock and a "container" holding mercury, a volatile and highly toxic metal.

When police saw the scene, they called in the Bristol Fire Department's Special Hazards truck and DEM officials. DEM spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said DEM officials called in crews from the hazardous waste management company Clean Harbors to decontaminate the home.

Although Ms. Vendituoli-Ferreira was not harmed by the substance, police are taking the act very seriously. Detectives are investigating the incident, he said, and are conducting interviews with several people.

"We don't know at this point whether it was random or targeted," Lt. Guercia said. "There have been no other problems in that neighborhood like this."

Lt. Guercia added that neighbors should not be alarmed by incident. The material was cleaned by professional cleaning crews, he said, and poses no threat to anyone living in the Aaron Avenue area. Contamination was kept to a minimum, he said.

75orLess @ 7:21 AM