SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — The Spokane County Elections Office was evacuated Wednesday morning after an employee reportedly found a white powdered substance in an envelope.
Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton initially said the substance tested negative for anything toxic, but the Spokane Police Department (SPD) later confirmed the substance tested positive for fentanyl.
According to Dalton, the employee found the substance in an envelope at approximately 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. The employee told a supervisor, and the decision was made to evacuate the office.
Dalton told KREM 2 a note was seen inside the envelope, but no one knows what the note said because the envelope wasn't opened. She said the envelope has been given to police and the contents of the note are unknown.
Dalton said the employee is being evaluated by medical professionals but doesn't have any symptoms.
Elections office employees have been sent home for the day. meaning updated election numbers will not be released on Wednesday. If they get approval from hazmat officials, ballot counting will continue Thursday.
WATCH: Spokane County election office evacuated after white powder found
Several counties across Washington state also reported finding white powder in envelopes. A hazmat response was initiated after white powder as well as an envelope with an ominous message were found in an envelope at the Pierce County Elections Office, the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) said.
TPD said it received a call around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday about an employee at the office who was handling an envelope when a white powder fell out of it. A message inside the envelope that contained the white powder said, "End the election now," according to TPD. Nothing else was written inside the envelope.
On Wednesday afternoon, King County Elections also had fire and hazmat crews respond after an unknown substance was found. No word yet on if the two incidents were connected in any way.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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