Suspicious package sends three to Enid hospital

(Enid-AP) -- Two Garfield County sheriff's deputies and the Drummond police chief were quarantined Tuesday at an Enid hospital after they had a reaction to a powdery substance. <br><br>The officers

Wednesday, February 12th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Enid-AP) -- Two Garfield County sheriff's deputies and the Drummond police chief were quarantined Tuesday at an Enid hospital after they had a reaction to a powdery substance.

The officers were checking on a suspicious package at a Baptist church in Drummond. Officials say the package contained about 30 pounds of a powdery substance.

After transporting the package the deputies said they were having trouble breathing and noticed redness on their hands.

The substance was quarantined at the Garfield County Fairgrounds, and officials sent a sample to a lab in Oklahoma City for testing.

Garfield County officials say test results show that the package contained nikelous chloride, a swimming pool chemical that is toxic if inhaled.

The box was delivered by Federal Express and came from a religious book publisher in Nashville, Tennessee.