Two men, pool company indicted after toxic gas released at North Brunswick fitness center

At least six people suffered injuries in July after the wrong pool chemicals were allegedly mixed together. Court records show a similar incident occurred at the same gym in 2013.

Two men and a pool maintenance company have been indicted on criminal charges after a chemical mix-up at a North Brunswick LA Fitness in July released toxic gas, injuring at least six people and prompting a hazardous materials response.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on July 16 at the LA Fitness in the Brunswick Shopping Center on Milltown Road, near Route 1. Emergency crews responded after people reported a strong chemical odor coming from the building.

As many as eight people were affected, and six were hospitalized, including the driver of a chemical delivery truck. Firefighters reported that some of those exposed complained of respiratory problems. Officials said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening.

On Thursday, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that a state grand jury had indicted Ziad Natshe, 45, of Clifton; Jonathan Ball, 53, of Willingboro; and United Pools of New Jersey Inc., which does business as Arch Pool Management, of Mahwah.

According to prosecutors, toxic gas was released when sodium hypochlorite, a chlorine solution used to disinfect commercial swimming pools, was poured into a container holding muriatic acid, a chemical used to adjust pool water acidity.

Natshe, an employee of United Pools, was responsible for maintaining the fitness center’s pool and spa equipment and chemicals. Prosecutors allege he failed to ensure that containers holding hazardous chemicals were properly labeled, as required by safety regulations.

Ball, who was delivering chemicals to the facility for Miracle Chemical Company of Farmingdale, allegedly failed to adequately check the contents of the container before filling it, despite training requiring him to do so.

United Pools is accused of failing to maintain a safe workplace by ensuring that hazardous chemical containers were properly labeled.

“The conduct that resulted in these charges involved more than a simple mistake by one person,” Davenport said in a statement. “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.”

Natshe faces one count of second-degree risking widespread injury or damage. Ball and United Pools each face one count of third-degree risking widespread injury or damage.

Natshe and United Pools also face third- and fourth-degree charges related to alleged violations of public safety laws that resulted in bodily injuries.

A second-degree conviction carries a potential prison sentence of five to 10 years and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree offenses carry sentences of three to five years, while fourth-degree offenses carry sentences of up to 18 months.

Similar chemical incident at same gym in 2013

The North Brunswick LA Fitness was also the site of a similar chemical incident in December 2013, when a worker accidentally poured chlorine into a container of acid, releasing toxic fumes that entered the indoor pool area.

The 2013 incident involved a different pool management company than the one charged in the July 2026 incident. According to a 2020 New Jersey appellate court decision, a woman injured while swimming at the facility sued and received an $85,000 jury award against American Pool Management, the company responsible for maintaining the pool at the time.

After that incident, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the pool management company for improperly labeling two chemical containers, inadequate employee training involving protective masks, and failing to provide an eyewash station in the equipment room.

The Middlesex County Health Department also cited the company for failing to safely maintain the swimming pool. Court records show that the department had investigated two other chlorine gas incidents at the same facility in the preceding months, one involving a mechanical malfunction and another involving excessive chlorination following a power outage.

The July incident was investigated by the Division of Criminal Justice’s Regulatory Crimes Unit with assistance from the North Brunswick Police Department.