UPDATE: Sheriff says no threat from mystery powder that locked down jail, no one hurt

The Benton County jail was on lockdown for hours Friday after eight people were exposed to a mysterious white powder, officials said.

Sheriff Jerry Hatcher said the powder spilled out of a “medical package” that arrived at the jail around noon.

When a nurse opened the mailed package in the medical area, the white powder floated out and possibly exposed six nurses, a jail lieutenant and an inmate, Hatcher said in a news release.

Each person was examined at area hospitals and medically cleared, Hatcher said.

Kennewick firefighters and Tri-City hazmat specialists were called to help. Hatcher said they determined the substance wasn’t hazardous.

Investigators contacted the package’s sender, who confirmed the contents, Hatcher said.

The lockdown was lifted around 4:30 p.m.

This story was originally published December 28, 2018 at 4:14 PM.