Suspicious White Powder Discovered at Tacoma Public Utilities

Incident Date: 2/26/2010
Issuing Officer: Toryono Green 253.255.4857
Incident Type: Suspicion of Hazardous Material
Incident Location: 3628 S 35^th St

Narrative: At 2:44 p.m. Friday February 26, 2010, E17, M2, and B2 responded to the Tacoma Public Utilities building at 3628 S 35^th St for the report of a suspicious white powder in an envelope. The white powder was discovered when a TPU cashier opened a recently received payment from a customer.

Upon TFD arrival, the lobby of the building was evacuated, the cashier was assessed and isolated, and the TFD Hazmat team (E12, L4, and HM44) was dispatched to investigate. After making entry and evaluating the white substance, the powder was determined to be a harmless.

Shooting at Elementary School

Incident Date: 2/26/2010
Issuing Officer: Toryono Green 253.255.4857
Incident Type: Shooting
Incident Location: 1202 S 76^th St

Narrative: At 7:37 a.m. Friday February 26, 2010, E10 and M2 responded with the Tacoma Police Department to reports of a shooting at Birney Elementary School, 1202 S 76^th St.

TFD crews arrived to find an approximately 30 year old female victim that had been fatally shot. The shooting occurred outside of the school. According to law enforcement officers, the shooter was apprehended and shot outside of the Tacoma city limits a short distance away.

The school has been closed. All buses have been rerouted to a nearby community center located at 7802 S L St. Any children arriving at the school will also be taken there.

Body Recovery Effort

Incident Date: 2/25/2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke 253.255.3260
Incident Location: Northbound 1-5 and S. 38th street
Incident Type: Body Recovery

Narrative: At 6:58 a.m. Thursday February 25th, 2010 four companies of Tacoma Firefighters – 1 Engine, 1 ladder and 1 medic unit and 1 Technical Rescue Team responded to a reported car upside down in the water retention pond off the exit of Northbound 1-5 and Westbound 38th street.

A joint investigation effort by the Washington State Patrol, Pierce County Dive Team and Tacoma Fire Department revealed a deceased person inside the late model Kia 4 door sedan. The vehicle was towed from the pond, the body was recovered and it has now been transported to the Pierce County Medical examiner’s office for follow-up.