(MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo.) — Manitou Springs Elementary School (MSES) has provided an update on the powder found in the school auditorium that caused two evacuations in December. On Dec. 17, a visible powder was found in MSES's auditorium and some people reported symptoms of coughing and burning eyes, prompting an evacuation. A few days later, on Dec. 19, the school was evacuated again when staff experienced similar symptoms and the incident was determined to be related to a vacuum used to clean the auditorium. According to MSES, while the substance could not be definitively identified, based on remnants of casing found in the auditorium, the substance was likely packed in a Pepper Ball. Pepper Balls are commercially available through various retailers including Amazon. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) tested the substance and the vacuum used in the cleanup and found a weak presence of Capsaicinoid, the active ingredient in pepper spray, though the results were insufficient for definitive identification. School officials reviewed video footage from the auditorium but the footage could not provide a conclusive answer to how the pepper ball was deployed. "I think at this point, we can safely say that a Pepper Ball was activated in the auditorium. Without knowing when or where it came from, it will be difficult to determine if it was deployed intentionally," said School Resource Officer, Mandy Strider. "It could have fallen out of someone's pocket that day, the night before, or at another time." Since the discovery, MSES has been deep cleaned multiple times, and Superintendent of Manitou Springs School District Sean Dorsey wants to reassure the MSES families and staff that the building is safe. "The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a secure environment at MSES. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out," wrote Superintendent Dorsey.