Hazmat scare at Lakewood college turns out to be pudding mix

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Hazardous material scares aren't unusual these days but the one that briefly shut down a campus building at a college near Tacoma involved — pudding.

The News Tribune reports that an envelope with powder and an unusual message was found Tuesday at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. The item was left on a student's vehicle.

West Pierce Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Jenny Weekes says the message said something like, "Thank you for your service."

Multiple agencies sent emergency crews. They shut down one building because a campus security worker had taken the envelope inside.

The powder turned out to be instant pudding mix.

Says Weekes, "I believe it was chocolate."