Courts and Public Safety

An active criminal trial in Snohomish County, Washington, was abruptly halted Thursday when a scale taken from a drug‑evidence envelope tested positive for fentanyl residue, prompting the evacuation of nearly two dozen people from a second‑floor courtroom at the county courthouse in Everett. Around 11:55 a.m., an evidence envelope containing the scale was opened in court and a small amount of powder was reportedly seen, leading Everett Fire Department crews to relocate everyone present to the fourth floor, check their vital signs, and monitor for overdose symptoms such as unconsciousness or breathing problems. No one showed signs of exposure or required hospitalization, but the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office shut down the courtroom while a specialized hazmat team cleaned and secured the area. Former Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist said he had never heard of a courtroom being cleared for potential drug exposure and questioned why physical paraphernalia was brought in instead of photographs, arguing such evidence should stay in secure evidence rooms. Snohomish County Superior Court officials say they are reviewing all circumstances, policies and procedures to prevent a repeat incident, including how drug evidence is handled in court, as law‑enforcement and justice systems across the country grapple with fentanyl risks in non‑street settings like jails and courthouses.