A Vernal woman was arrested on Thursday after making threats and spreading a white substance she claimed was anthrax around the apartment complex she lives in. According to a KSL report, officers responded to the call to a multi-resident apartment complex for elderly persons near 1800 West 1500 South in Uintah County. The call claimed that a white substance had been spread and a sign claimed the substance was the biological agent anthrax. Once tested, it was determined to actually be the household cleaner Borax. A 70-year-old woman who had recently been served with an eviction notice was named as a suspect and footprints in the white power led to the woman’s apartment in the complex. The Johnny Cash song ‘Hurt’ could be heard playing inside the apartment. Officers forced entry, found a bag with a sign on it that said ‘Toxic’ and located the woman in her apartment laying on her bed in good health. She was asked why she posted the sign claiming the substance was anthrax and she explained that her understanding was that she would be sent to federal prison instead of state prison and that she used the word anthrax to get someone’s attention. The 70-year-old woman was arrested and booked into Uintah County Jail. She’s being investigated for making a terroristic threat.
