Friday, November 14, 2014
BOARDMAN
The FBI and local law- enforcement officials are awaiting results of a lab test to determine what substance was in an envelope sent to a Boardman business Wednesday before they proceed with the case.
“I don’t know that we have any suspects at all,” police Chief Jack Nichols said. “We’re in the process of determining whether it’s going to be the FBI’s case or ours.”
Nichols said he does not believe an arrest is imminent, however.
Determining which agency will handle the investigation will be based on the lab results, which will not be back for a few days, according to FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson.
Township police and fire officials, agents from the FBI’s Cleveland office, a hazardous materials crew and emergency medical service workers were sent to American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday after an employee opened an envelope and discovered a white powder substance on paperwork from a former employee.
According to a police report, the employee told police he was opening the business mail when the powder fell out of a letter. When he continued opening the letter, the powder got onto his clothes.
One other employee was exposed to the substance.
Employees said the envelope contained a returned insurance form from a former employee.
One of the employees who was exposed to the substance told police the sender was terminated last month and was upset about it. According to a police report, the victim said the sender “sent him harassing messages to his cellphone ... in reference to him hoping he dies from cancer.”
After the nine other people in the building were evacuated and released, the two who were exposed to the substance were decontaminated by a Haz-Mat crew and taken to St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.
No one showed any signs of sickness, according to police and fire officials.
The substance is being tested at an Ohio Department of Health laboratory in Reynoldsburg.