SALEM Residents' caution in two cases was good, chief says

Two detectives transported the suspicious items to ODH for testing.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- In light of the recent anthrax scares, residents responded properly over the weekend in reporting two suspicious incidents, Police Chief Michael Weitz said.
Two detectives took a $20 bill from a Taco Bell restaurant and a suspicious envelope mailed to a Wilson Street man to the Ohio Department of Health lab in Columbus on Monday for testing.
Weitz said police and fire personnel followed proper protocol, taking precautionary measures because of the nationwide threat of anthrax contamination.
"We are fortunate that our residents are well-informed and did not hesitate to notify us," Weitz said.
Suspicious customer: Police responded to Taco Bell at 1872 E. State St. about 8 p.m. Saturday after a manager reported a customer at the drive-up window acted suspiciously.
The manager told police that the customer, wearing latex gloves, paid for his order at the drive-up window with a $20 bill he removed from a sealed paper envelope. The manager placed the $20 in a plastic bag and called police.
Police directed any employees who handled the $20 bill to wash their face and hands as a precautionary measure.
Powder on envelope: Police took similar action Friday evening after a resident in the 400 block of West Wilson reported a white powder substance on a 9-by-12 envelope he had received in the mail.
The man said the envelope was from an out-of-town corporation, and he was not expecting any mail from that company.
Weitz said the letter was in a window envelope and the man saw the powder through the window.
Weitz said in similar cases across the country such powder has been found to be cornstarch or similar materials. He said corporations often use such material to keep sheets of paper in bulk mailings from sticking together.
In both cases, police placed the items in biohazard containers provided by Salem Community Hospital.
Weitz said in such cases, local law enforcement is responsible for transporting to ODH any items they want tested.
tullis@vindy.com