- A 70-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly spreading white powder at a senior center in Vernal.
- Deputies say she posted a note claiming it was anthrax.
- The woman had recently been given an eviction notice and was found in her bed at the center.
VERNAL — A 70-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and accused of spreading a substance meant to resemble anthrax in a complex that houses seniors.
When the woman was arrested in her Vernal apartment, police say she was playing the song "Hurt" by Johnny Cash.
The Uintah County Sheriff's Office was called to a "multiresident complex that houses elderly persons and some of them have disabilities," near 1800 West and 1500 South, after "a white substance had been spread throughout the hallway and a sign had been posted claiming the substance was possibly anthrax, which is a biological agent. Anthrax is classified as a weapon of mass destruction," according to a police booking affidavit.
Residents of the facility were evacuated as a hazardous materials team responded to the incident. The white substance was spread "heavily" throughout the foyer and other areas and a sample was collected for testing.
"The sample was tested and determined that it was not anthrax. It was determined to be Borax," which is typically used as a household cleaner, the affidavit states.
The woman, who had recently been served with an eviction notice, was immediately identified as a suspect. Deputies said there were footprints in the white substance leading to her apartment in the facility.
"Music was heard coming from the apartment and the song was 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash, which begins by saying 'I hurt myself today,'" the affidavit states.
Due to the combination of terroristic threats, the music and prior behavior, deputies decided to force their way into the apartment. Inside, "I located a bag with a sign on it that said 'Toxic,'" the arresting officer wrote.
The woman was found lying on her bed and in "good health," police said.
When asked why she posted a sign stating the white substance was anthrax, she said, "It was her understanding that she would be sent to federal prison instead of state prison. (She) stated she put the word anthrax to get someone's attention," the affidavit states.
The woman was booked into the Uintah County Jail for investigation of making a terroristic threat.
