2 Men Indicted After Toxic Gas Injures At Least 6 At North Brunswick Gym

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A pool maintenance company and two men have been indicted on charges connected to a toxic gas release at a North Brunswick fitness center that injured at least six people, NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said.

Ziad Natshe, 45, of Clifton, is charged with second-degree risking widespread injury or damage. United Pools of New Jersey Inc. of Mahwah, which does business as Arch Pool Management, and Jonathan Ball, 53, of Willingboro, are each charged with third-degree risking widespread injury or damage.

Natshe and United Pools also each face one third-degree count and one fourth-degree count of knowingly violating, or failing to perform, a legal duty meant to protect public safety, resulting in bodily injury.

According to court documents, Natshe worked for United Pools on July 16, maintaining the pool and spa equipment and chemicals at a North Brunswick fitness center.

Natshe allegedly failed to keep legible, legally required labels on containers of hazardous materials, including hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, and sodium hypochlorite, a chlorine solution used in commercial pools, authorities said.

That same day, Ball delivered sodium hypochlorite to the fitness center. Before the delivery, and contrary to his training, Ball allegedly failed to properly check whether the container he planned to fill actually held sodium hypochlorite, according to the state.

The sodium hypochlorite was put into a container of muriatic acid, releasing toxic gas from the spa equipment and chemical room, authorities said. At least one person suffered serious bodily injury, and at least five others suffered significant bodily injury.

United Pools allegedly failed to provide a safe work environment by not making sure the containers were labeled properly, according to the state.

“The conduct that resulted in these charged involved more than a simple mistake by one person,” Davenport said. “We allege multiple failures that led to injuries. The law is in place to prevent incidents like this, and we will continue to enforce the law to keep people safe.”

“The defendants in this case are charged with recklessly handling chemicals in the course of maintaining a health club pool,” said Martha Nye, interim director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “These are chemicals that when mishandled, as we allege in this case, can cause serious injury. Our office is committed to protecting the public from preventable danger like this.”

A second-degree charge carries five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree charges carry up to 18 months and a fine of up to $10,000.

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