Powdery Substance At Moose Lake Correctional Facility Hospitalizes 4 Staff Members

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — An area of the Moose Lake Correctional Facility was put on lockdown Thursday after staff members came in contact with a powdery substance, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officials said staff members were conducting a room search when they were exposed to the substance that became airborne, which causes symptoms of a possible chemical exposure.

A total of four staff were medically evaluated at a hospital and later released.

The affected area will be on lockdown through Friday while investigators work to identify the substance.

The incident comes just three weeks after nine staff members at the correctional facility in Stillwater were hospitalized after being exposed to a possible synthetic controlled substance there.