Powder Incident Leads to Haz-Mat Response on UConn's Depot Campus

STORRS, CT — A Wethersfield man told University of Connecticut police that he never imagined spreading baking soda around a friend's car near a building that utilizes chemicals would generate a haz-mat response, according to an incident report.

It did. And he now has to appear before a judge on Oct. 3 to explain his actions, police said.

Just after 10 a.m. on Friday, UConn police were called to the Longley Building parking area on the Depot Campus for a car "encircled" in a white powdery substance. Because police had no idea what the powder was and since chemicals are used at Longley, the UConn Fire Department was called and a "full" hazardous materials response was initiated, according to an incident report.

It turns out, the substance was baking soda, according to an incident report.

The prank was traced to a student from Wethersfield, UConn police said. He told police that it was a friend's car and that he did not think it would generate such a response.

He was charged with first-degree breach of peace, according to an incident report.

He was released on a $5,000 bond and assigned the court date, police said.

The charge was eventually dismissed.

Photo Credit: UConn