Jail employees treated after powder contact

10/6/2004

Two Lucas County jail employees complained of light-headedness last week after opening an envelope addressed to an inmate that contained a card and some unidentified powder.

Following jail procedure, a counselor opened the envelope while the inmate was watching on the other side of the bars, said Lt. Milan Voska, acting corrections administrator. The counselor noticed powder in the envelope, which then was sealed in a plastic bag and taken to the property room.

"At no time did the inmate have the card or the suspected powder," Lieutenant Voska said.

The counselor and a corrections officer received hospital treatment, but no medical problems were found, Lieutenant Voska said. The material was tested by the Toledo fire department, but was found not to be a biohazard, said sheriff's Lt. Don Atkinson.

It has not yet been determined whether it was a drug.