Emergency response to a string of suspicious packages delivered across Saskatoon Tuesday came at a high price.
More than $80,200 was spent by the Saskatoon Fire Department, the Saskatoon Police Service, the city’s Emergency Measures Organization, the Ministry of Environment and MD Ambulance in response to the incidents.
Over 60 emergency workers were sent to the scenes, according to the fire department. Hazmat teams, a decontamination unit and environment ministry workers were all called.
The fire department and EMO together spent about $53,300, while the response cost the police just over $13,500.
Nearly $14,000 of the fire department and EMO costs, and $8,100 of the police expenses, were used on overtime.
MD Ambulance’s expenses came out to about $3,500, while the environment ministry spent an estimated $10,000 responding.
A 31-year-old woman is facing 15 charges of mischief and uttering threats to cause bodily harm in connection to the incident, which saw five suspicious packages delivered to five businesses across Saskatoon within a two-hour span.
Police say Alexa Emerson hired two people to deliver the packages to the businesses. The two didn’t know the contents of the packages, according to police.
Test results showed the substances in four of the five packages were baking soda, while the substance in the fifth package was talcum powder.
Emerson, who is also known as Amanda Totchek, was already in police custody while the packages were being delivered. She had turned herself in to police Tuesday morning in connection to charges from an October incident, her lawyer Brian Pfefferle said.
She is expected to appear in court on the new charges on Dec. 6.
