A woman accused of spraying a neighbor with a chemical in Deerfield Beach was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
The woman, who lives in the 400 block of Northwest 36th Avenue, sprayed another resident, Broward Sheriff’s spokeswoman Gina Carter said.
A hazardous-materials team went to the neighborhood west of Powerline Road and north of West Hillsboro Boulevard, Carter said.
The chemical was ammonia, Carter said.
The hazardous materials team still was investigating the substance, which may have been a mixture of several components, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Kane said Monday afternoon.
One of the deputies who answered the 10:30 a.m. call for help was overcome by a smell from the chemical, which was very strong, Carter said. The deputy and the woman who was sprayed were being treated at a hospital, Carter said.
Florida’s Baker Act allows a person to be briefly, involuntarily hospitalized if she is considered mentally unstable or a danger to herself or others.
ljtrischitta@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta
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