EVERETT — A woman who apparently came in contact with a suspicious white powder Thursday and became anxious over the possibility of anthrax was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center’s Colby Campus.
Although officials didn’t believe there was any threat, the unidentified woman was decontaminated at the scene and at the hospital. She was released Thursday evening with a supply of antibiotics as a preventative measure, said Cheri Russum, hospital spokeswoman.
The white powder was sent to a state health department laboratory for testing, Russun said. Results were unavailable Thursday night.
The woman was the second person taken by ambulance, along with "less than a handful" of walk-in cases, to show up to Colby Campus to be checked for possible exposure to anthrax in recent weeks.
So far, no anthrax cases have occurred in Washington state, although hospitals across the country are seeing people worried about infection.
Mountlake Terrace
Bizarre shooting: A Mountlake Terrace man trying to stop a man he believed was prowling cars outside his home may face charges himself after he shot the suspect, police said.
The 27-year-old homeowner looked out his window on Sunday and saw someone breaking into cars on the street, police Cmdr. Mike Mitchell said Thursday. He confronted the man and they scuffled, and the homeowner’s gun discharged during the scuffle, he said. The bullet ricocheted and struck the suspect in the foot. The suspect then fled, and neither reported the incident to police.
Shoreline police found the wounded man about eight blocks away, Mitchell said. Police followed the trail of blood to the scene outside the alleged shooter’s home. They watched the house, obtained a search warrant and arrested the homeowner about five hours later, Mitchell said.
The homeowner was booked into Snohomish County Jail on investigation of first-degree assault. The suspect may be charged in connection with the car prowls, police said.
Home robbed, man assaulted: A Mountlake Terrace man severely beaten by two intruders in a home invasion robbery was listed in satisfactory condition Thursday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The man’s 11-year-old daughter was not injured in the attack, but was forced at gunpoint through her home by the intruders, Mountlake Terrace police Cmdr. Mike Mitchell said.
The incident occurred about 10:15 p.m. Halloween night at a home in the 23900 block of 56th Avenue W. When the girl answered the door, the two men forced their way inside. The resident was beaten with a blunt instrument and the girl had "a gun stuck in her face."
The intruders wore masks, and the occupants did not know them, Mitchell said.
"It was pretty quick, in and out," he said. "They forced her into different areas of the house and then they were on their way."
Police ask anyone with information on the robbers to call detectives at 425-670-8260.
From Herald staff reports
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