Suspicious substance causes lockdown at California hospital - but turns out to be pasta sauce

Authorities closed a 10-bed wing of the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital and scrambled together a hazardous materials response team after a walk-in patient reported feeling sick then dropped a bag filled with a mysterious substance to the floor, Orange fire Capt. Ian MacDonald said.

A police officer responding to the scene reported feeling sick when he came into contact with the substance. Both he and the walk-in patient were quarantined.

It turns out the contents of the bag were "an empty herbal vitamin package with residue still inside and powdered alfredo sauce mix," MacDonald said.

Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals for about four hours while parts of the emergency department were shut down.

Police, firefighters, sheriff deputies and FBI agents responded. The Anaheim Hazardous Materials Response Team tested the powder.

 

"We had certain red flags — an unknown subject walking into an emergency department with unknown substance. And after she was feeling ill, an officer felt ill. With that criteria, we were treating the incident as a worst case scenario," MacDonald said. "It turned out to be a best-case scenario."

MacDonald said the patient and the officer were in good condition.

Capt. Ian MacDonald of the Orange Fire Department says a police officer who responded to the scene Friday quickly felt ill, too.

Both the patient and the officer were isolated at St. Joseph's Hospital and decontaminated. The substance contained both solids and liquids and was placed in a third room.

Patients were allowed to stay in the emergency room, but the Fire Department shut off ventilation systems. Walk-in patients are still being accepted. Ambulances are being diverted to other facilities.

A hazardous materials crew is preparing to examine the substance.