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HazMat, FBI called after Boardman business gets substance from fired employee
White powder was found in envelope received at American Business Center
BOARDMAN
Local law-enforcement officials are awaiting the results of a lab test to determine what substance was in an envelope sent to a business by a former employee Wednesday.
Employees of American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., called police about 1:15 p.m. after opening the envelope to find a letter with a suspicious powder.
“They opened the letter, and there was a white powdery substance in the letter,” fire Chief Mark Pitzer said.
Firefighters isolated the area and the 11 people in the building, he said.
Responders included police officers, a hazardous-materials team and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland department.
Two out of the 11 employees were exposed to the letter. Those two were quarantined for several hours in the office where they originally opened the letter and then were decontaminated by a Haz-Mat team.
The pair were put in Haz-Mat suits after the other employees were evacuated and then were taken to St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.
Evacuating the other nine people took a few hours, as they were slowly brought out two at a time and evaluated by emergency medical service workers.
“Nobody was showing any signs of being exposed to any kind of biological agent,” Pitzer said, saying the two exposed to the powder also were not showing signs of sickness.
After decontaminating everyone, the Haz-Mat team secured the envelope and then cleaned the premises so employees could return to work today.
Police Sgt. Brian Habeger said the employee who opened the letter handled the situation correctly, and that anyone who receives a suspicious letter should do what they did.
“If you’re not sure what it is, contact the police department. And leave it where [you] find it,” he said. “Don’t let anybody come into contact with it. And contact 911.”
Township police were working with the Warren police department Wednesday afternoon to track down the suspect and make an arrest, Pitzer said. Police would not comment on the suspect as of late Wednesday night.
The investigation is being handled by the FBI in conjunction with Boardman police.
Police said the powder was sent to a lab in Columbus. Conclusive results about the substance are expected sometime today, Pitzer added.