Two floors of Hamilton County Jail evacuated

Two levels of the Hamilton County Jail were evacuated shortly after noon today after an unknown substance was sprayed in the face of two officers.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Max Templeton said officers in the booking area opened a box where weapons and small personal items, usually belonging to prisoners, are deposited on a daily basis. One officer touched an unknown item causing it to spray a substance into the air, Sgt. Templeton said.

Jail personnel called 911, and the Hazardous Materials team was dispensed and the basement and first floor were evacuated.

The officers complained of eye irritation and difficulty breathing and were taken to Erlanger hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Haz/Mat team identified the substance as pepper spray and employees were allowed back into the building about 1 p.m., Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner said.

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.