Six deputies at the Los Angeles County Sheriff Men’s Central Jail in Chinatown were transported to nearby hospitals after exposure to an unknown substance Tuesday, authorities confirmed to KTLA.
This is the second time crews with the L.A. County Fire Department have responded to the facility at 441 Bauchet Street in the last eight hours.
Medical personnel with the county fire department were at the jail early this morning after it was reported that “seven persons, all believed to be inmates, who may have inhaled or been exposed to a yet to be formally identified substance within the jail facility.”
One of those patients was listed in critical condition and six others were in serious condition, the Fire Department stated in an update.
A Fire Department hazardous materials team was sent to the jail to assess the area but found no additional patients at that time and also determined there was no escalating hazard.
Aerial footage of the afternoon response at the facility showed a large presence of L.A. County Fire crews, along with deputies outside the jail.
The condition of the six deputies was not immediately available, though LASD told KTLA the afternoon incident was related to the earlier hazmat response and all six were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
It is unclear if the six deputies were exposed to the same unidentified substance as the inmates.
No further details were provided.