Erin Brockovich's team in town, Le Roy reluctant to allow access

Posted at: 01/28/2012 7:20 PM | Updated at: 01/29/2012 9:28 AM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

Famous environmentalist, Erin Brockovich, sent a team to Genesee County Saturday. She wants to know why some students at Le Roy High School are experiencing tourette-like tics and seizures.
   
Doctors have diagnosed the teens with conversion disorder, which is a neurological problem induced by stress.

But the relentless Brockovich and her team want to know if it's something related to the environment.

News10NBC witnessed the confrontation that erupted near the school. We were there when parents, school officials and the team were arguing over the new testing.

The State Health Department had already done some tests and ruled out environmental factors, but Brockovich's team says the studies are not thorough enough and they want to investigate further.
    
But as we found out Saturday, the school district isn't going to make it easy.

Bob Bowcock came to Le Roy all the way from California. He is part of Erin Brockovich's team. Brockovich is a widely known environmental activist.

“I'm just looking at the environment. I'm trying to see where things drain to. What types of soils they are,” Bowcock told News10NBC.

Her team got involved after 15 teens in Le Roy gained national media spotlight after developing mysterious tourette-like symptoms.

Their parents had called Brockovich for help, and now her team of investigators, including Bowcock, would like to get to the bottom of it all.

Bowcock started around the Le Roy High School. He looked at ground water and soil at a nearby park for anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't long before they ran into a road block. The school placed locks on all the entrances to the sports field.

“Look at the settling, kick up some dirt, look at what the kids are experiencing on a day-in day-out basis. I just think it is pretty pathetic and unfortunate that we come out to help people and the public officials are blocking us,” Bowcock concluded.

Within minutes local police showed up and a school security guard told the crew they couldn't go on the property until the school's lawyer showed up.

Shortly after, the superintendent, Kim Cox, and a spokesman for the district showed up.

Officials agreed to let parents, Bowcock and his team walk the grounds, without media, as long as they didn't take any samples.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news, go to www.whec.com

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