Gwinnett County

Dangerous fentanyl spills outside police department, creating hazmat situation

DULUTH, Ga. — Crews worked to clean a dangerous drug from a police department headquarters after someone spilled it Wednesday.

Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes was the first to report that Duluth police were transporting fentanyl from the GBI when someone spilled it inside and outside the building.

Two Duluth police officers were in an SUV transporting evidence back from the GBI, where it was being tested, to the City of Duluth Public Safety Center when they realized some of the fentanyl had spilled out of an evidence bag.

The officers called for help, knowing how dangerous the substance can be.

Officials quarantined everything around the vehicle. Hazmat crews tested materials and worked to clean everything up.

“It was pretty scary being so close to, you know, to something that can kill you with the smallest grain,” Duluth police Officer Ted Sadowski said.

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One of the officers was exposed to the drug. Fire crews decontaminated him and he and the other officer are both OK.

“It was very dangerous for our officers to be put in that situation,” Sadowski said.

The GBI has halted all evidence from leaving its facility while it investigates the spill. Investigators are working to figure if someone made a mistake.

“I don’t know who packaged it, if it was GBI, us or what-not. We’re just trying to figure that out,” Sadowski said.

GBI officials said they are reviewing their policies and procedures when it comes to packaging evidence.