Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Suspicious Powder Found in Mail at DuPage County Courthouse is Not Toxic

A suspect is in custody of U.S. Marshals after a suspicious incident with a powdery substance in a letter at the DuPage County Courthouse Tuesday morning.

Updated Tuesday, 4:11 p.m.

A powdery substance a mail clerk found in a letter at the DuPage County Courthouse Tuesday morning is not toxic, according to a press release from the Sheriff's office Tuesday.

Authorities continue to investigate a suspicious incident that occurred this morning at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, according to a press release from the Sheriff's office Tuesday.

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Personnel from FBI Chicago contacted the Sheriff’s Office and advised the Illinois Dept of Public Health Lab analyzed the suspicious substance and confirmed there was no toxic substances present. This is still being investigated at this time, and updates will be provided as information becomes available, according to the release.

According to the release, a suspicious letter arrived in the mailroom at the around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A mail clerk opened a letter to find an unknown powdery substance enclosed  with the correspondence. The mail clerk notified Deputies assigned to the Courthouse, who then secured the mailroom and notified the Wheaton Fire Department to respond, according to the release.

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With the assistance of HAZMAT personnel, and FBI Chicago all preliminary tests indicate that the powdery substance is not volatile or harmful. As a precautionary measure the mail clerk was transported to Central DuPage Hospital for health screening.

Sheriff’s Detectives assigned to the incident have identified a suspect and the individual is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, officials said.

The investigation is ongoing and further updates will be made when information becomes available.


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