Hazmat teams respond after Redmond court, Tacoma jail evacuated
May 22, 2018, 11:26 AM | Updated: 2:42 pm
A hazmat team responds to the Pierce County Jail in downtown Tacoma Tuesday, May 22, 2018 after a suspicious letter with white powder inside was opened at the building. (Pierce County Sheriff's Office)
(Pierce County Sheriff's Office)
A Redmond courthouse and a Tacoma jail were evacuated Tuesday morning after officials at both buildings received a “suspicious letter.” Hazmat teams responded to each scene.
It is unclear if the two separate incidents are related.
The King County Sheriff’s Office reports that the Redmond District Courthouse was evacuated by 11 a.m. Tuesday. The sheriff’s office says the issue involves a “suspicious letter.” A hazmat team was called to the scene to investigate. By 11:30 a.m. the sheriff’s office said that the hazmat team found no threat after inspecting the letter.
Employees were allowed back into the building.
Pierce County jail evacuated
At the same time Tuesday, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office reported that the Pierce County Jail in downtown Tacoma was also evacuated after officials received a “suspicious letter.” The letter contained an unknown white powder inside and was opened at the building.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office called the incident a “minor evacuation” with no injuries. The jail building is connected to the Pierce County Courthouse and the sheriff’s office.
By 12:15 p.m. the Tacoma Fire Department reported that the issue was resolved and that the substance in the letter was determined to be non-hazardous.
Video from outside Pierce County Courthouse & Jail in downtown Tacoma, where letter containing suspicious unknown white powder was opened this morning. pic.twitter.com/ooQaRat7Hm
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) May 22, 2018
Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest
