White Substance Sent to City of Hope Determined Non-Hazardous

PHOTO/By Aaron Castrejon.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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DUARTE - Three people who came into contact with a white substance were uninjured at City of Hope Friday after the substance was deemed non-hazardous.

The substance, which has yet to be identified, was rendered safe by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Hazmat Detail, according to Deputy Morgan Arteaga of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The substance was somehow received by City of Hope, 1500 Duarte Rd. Deputies were first called to the scene at 2:40 p.m. Los Angeles County Firefighters were dispatched four minutes later.

It was not disclosed what building was affected, but Sheriff’s vehicles and fire trucks were stationed just west of the Mickey and Alice Kaplan Clinical Research Building.

The substance was isolated to one room in the affected building, while operations at the rest of the campus were unaffected, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The rest of City of Hope seemed unaware of what transpired. The only indication something was amiss were two deputy patrol vehicles with flashing lights stationed near entrances along Duarte Road and the booming arrival of the Sheriff’s Hazmat Mobile Laboratory.

Authorities on scene gave the “all-clear” at 6:43 p.m., Arteaga said.

The three people who came into contact with the substance were treated and released at the scene, according to Sgt. Summers of the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Detectives at the Sheriff’s Temple Station will investigate the source of the package, Summers said.