‘Green powder’ in car may be fentanyl

Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies arrested three people Monday after a chase that ended with a “large cloud of green powder” coming from the suspects’ car, according to a news release Tuesday.

One of the passengers told deputies the powder was fentanyl, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The passengers also had the powder on their clothes, the release said. In the car, powder was found on the passenger floorboard, dashboard and driver’s seat.

Another clump of suspected fentanyl was found on a Circle K coffee cup inside the car, the release said, as well as a container with about 1.5 grams of suspected fentanyl and pills deputies believed were pressed fentanyl.

“It appeared as if (the passenger) was attempting to conceal the fentanyl inside the coffee cup, but spilled it everywhere,” an affidavit in the case said.

The passenger reportedly told deputies the driver had given him the fentanyl to dispose of, according to the affidavit.

Deputies called for medics to check on the driver and two passengers, who were then arrested and booked on open warrants.

Fentanyl cannot be absorbed through skin, according to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. If you are exposed to a substance you believe to be fentanyl, the department says you should not touch your eyes or mouth and should wash with soap and water and seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms.

The chase began shortly before 1 a.m. Monday on Mountain Creek Road. A deputy reported seeing two men get into a car without a license plate and a faded temporary tag. When the deputy tried to pull over the car, the release said, the driver slowed down, then sped back up and led the chase onto Dayton Boulevard.

Sparks came from one of the car’s wheels before it stopped in the middle of the road, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The car could not be searched because of the powder, the release said, and was taken to the county’s narcotics impound lot.

The driver and one passenger now face charges including drug and drug paraphernalia possession and tampering with evidence. The second passenger was arrested on a February theft charge, court records show.