[Update] White Powder Found in Teacher's Purse Was Sodium Bicarbonate

Update, 5:36 p.m.

The Avon police and fire department responded to reports of an unknown white powder left in an employee's purse at the Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center on 2:18 p.m. Wednesday.

The Regional Hazmat Team was activated and tested the powder, finding it to be baking soda.

No arrests have been made at this time.

School was already over there and at Avon Middle School next door. Students were dismissed at the diagnostics center before emergency personnel arrived, but remaining staff members in the building were evacuated.

Superintendent Gary Mala visited the middle school late afternoon to check in on the situation and Principal Marco Famiglietti said that they were not asked to evacuate or go into lockdown.

Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center is located at 395 West Avon Rd. and is in the same plaza as , and .

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Update, 4:41 p.m.

Lacrosse practice and talent show reheasal went on as usual at Avon Middle School went on as usual Wednesday despite a HAZMAT investigation at Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center next door.

The middle school was not placed in lockdown, but everyone inside the diagnostic center was evacuated.

A white powder found sealed in a bag inside an envelope in a teacher's purse turned out to be baking soda. It did not belong to the teacher and it's not clear at this time who put it there, police said.

"We're investigating to see which party or parties are involved," Lt. Kelly Walsh, public information officer for the Avon Police Department said. "Nobody was in need of medical treatment."

A staff member found the substance and called it in to the police, she said.

The responding fire departments in the hazmat squad, including Avon, Simsbury and West Hartford, used the middle school parking lot as a staging area for their trucks.

Farmington Valley schools share the diagnostic center to teach area students with behavioral or learning issues resulting in temporary removal from their public schools, according to its website. The center performs diagnostics and evaluations to inform respective school districts about strategies to educate those children.

The school is a Capitol Region Education Council facility.

Update, 4:26 p.m.

The white powder found in an envelope in a teacher's purse at the Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center was sodium bicarbonate, according to Lt. Kelly Walsh, spokeswoman for the Avon Police Department.

In other words, it was baking soda.

A regional HAZMAT team tested the substance and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Avon Police Department and Avon Volunteer Fire Department were on scene, as well.

Original Story

Police found an unknown white substance in a baggie inside an envelope in a teacher's purse Wednesday afternoon at the Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center on West Avon Road.

The center is a learning facility, and it is unclear who the purse belongs to at this time.

The Avon Fire Department and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are investigating, and a HAZMAT team is being called in to test the substance.

The center is located in the plaza next door to . The occupants of the building were evacuated and are all safe, according to fire officials.

The entrance to the parking lot off West Avon Road is still cordoned off as of 3:45 p.m.

"At this time, there are no signs of illness," according to Avon Police Lt. Kelly Walsh, the department's PIO. "[The substance] doesn't appear to be airborne."

Check back with Avon Patch for more information as it becomes available.

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