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Sheriff's office closes evidence room after officers report burning eyes and skin; county OKs urgent cleanup
Summary
A county sheriff's captain told commissioners that evidence-room handling caused skin and respiratory symptoms among staff; HAZMAT and Air Force monitors found mixed chemical contamination and the county moved to remove and safely destroy contaminated evidence, then remediate the room and HVAC system.
A captain with the Trumbull County sheriff's office told the Board of Commissioners that officers who handled evidence in the agency's evidence room suffered burning eyes, sinus irritation and skin reactions after working inside the space, prompting an emergency response and a temporary shutdown.
"January 2, myself and deputy Currington were in that room. She suffered hives. Face was broke out. I had some face burning, sinus burning," the captain said, describing two separate incidents that led staff to seek medical attention and call Hazmat. He said tests by county and Air Force monitors detected a "cocktail" of contaminants on walls and shelving, including pesticide residues and precursors used in illicit drugs.
Commissioners were told the room has been closed and a contractor that can provide respirators and specialized cleaning quoted about $12,000 for initial remediation work. The sheriff's office said its immediate plan is to remove and secure evidence, destroy material that should no longer be retained, and then clean and re-evaluate the room before returning it to service.
County officials said the evidence-room HVAC has been unreliable for years and that filters were heavily soiled when Hazmat inspected them. The sheriff's office proposed a sequence: remove contaminated evidence into a secured trailer, perform a deep clean targeting walls, ceiling and shelving, then repair or replace HVAC components and carry out follow-up testing. The captain said the cleaning contractor's proposal was comprehensive but that some respirator or specialized work might be handled directly by the contractor.
The county prosecutor's office and county HR staff weighed in on procurement and budget channels; the prosecutor suggested the board could treat the cleanup as an emergency invoice or add it as a last-minute agenda item if the commissioners preferred a formal contract. Several commissioners pressed for action, citing staff safety as the highest priority.
Commissioners directed staff to proceed with cleanup arrangements and report back on funding and any insurance or grant avenues. They emphasized securing evidence that must be retained and documenting chain-of-custody during any destruction or transfer of materials.
The meeting did not record a formal vote on a contract at the session; commissioners instructed county staff and the sheriff's office to move forward with emergency remediation and to confirm funding sources and procurement steps at the next meeting.
