Woman Hospitalized In Evanston Hazmat Incident

EVANSTON, IL — A hazmat incident at an Evanston care facility hospitalized one woman Friday morning, according to police.

At approximately 9:56 a.m., police received a 911 call reporting a resident at Greenwood Care, a care facility for the chronically mentally ill, who was in distress. When first responders arrived, the woman was conscious but with "altered mental status."

Paramedics transported the woman to a local hospital.

At about 10:12 a.m., the Evanston Fire Department requested a hazardous materials response after discovering a suspicious substance in the resident's room. Authorities tested the substance, as well as a fanny pack that was in her possession, and determined it wasn't a threat to the public.

Evidence technicians collected the substance and sent it to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for narcotics analysis.

As a precaution, Chicago Avenue was closed between Lake and Dempster Streets while authorities investigated the incident. Streets reopened to the public after about two hours, around 12:30 p.m.