EVERETT, Wash. — Firefighters were called out to the Snohomish County Courthouse after an evidence envelope was opened during active trial proceedings in a second-floor courtroom.
The scale in the evidence envelope had residue that tested positive for fentanyl.
The incident happened around 12 p.m., exposing people inside the courtroom.
“One person thought that they saw small powder that kind of came off the scale,” said Everett Fire Department spokesperson Rachael Doniger.
Evidence envelopes or bags are often not opened to keep anyone from tampering with evidence.
The reason the envelope was opened remains unclear.
Everyone in the courtroom was taken up to the fourth floor for evaluation.
“We checked their vital signs, ask if they’re sick at all, if they’re feeling any symptoms. They go through regular checking blood pressure and various aspects of that,” said Doniger.
Everett Fire says around 20 people were checked out – and no one had any symptoms.
Exposure to fentanyl can be deadly.
The courtroom was taped off, as a Snohomish County Sheriff’s hazmat team did a thorough cleaning out of an abundance of caution.
The county prosecutor’s office gave KIRO 7 a statement, saying, “It is not believed that anyone did anything wrong. The situation will be debriefed among the involved departments and if any concerns are identified, they will be addressed.”
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