Tour Becomes a Stunner as Mace Gets in the Air

Halfway through a tour of the state youth prison here Tuesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger experienced a sensation hundreds of juvenile inmates have endured.

He got hit with Mace -- sprayed not once, but twice.

Mace is a chemical spray, commonly used in law enforcement, that has the combined effect of tear gas and nerve gas. It irritates the eyes and can temporarily stun and disorient its targets.

It happened as Schwarzenegger sat in a blue van that was ferrying him around the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility.

As the governor and his entourage of dignitaries and security men climbed into the vehicle, a small burst of Mace escaped from a canister strapped to an officer’s belt.

Leaping out of the van, Schwarzenegger and the others rubbed their eyes, coughed a bit and -- more than anything -- had a good laugh at the expense of the guard who had the Mace. He was Mike Minor, Chaderjian’s chief of security.

After the van aired out, they all piled back in and continued on their way.

But five minutes later, during another van stop, Minor’s canister set off another errant blast, causing Schwarzenegger and company to once again jump out into the fresh air.

No one was injured, though Schwarzenegger’s eyes turned a bit red and watery.

Security chief Minor, meanwhile, endured endless ribbing.

And at the end of the tour, Schwarzenegger placed tissue over his mouth and nose and posed for a photo with the sheepish officer. Abundant laughing ensued.