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Federal Authorities Investigate White Powder Discovered By OU Employee
By: Megan Moseley, Taylor Mirfendereski
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UPDATE 11:40 p.m. Initial tests by first responders determined the white powder contained in an envelope an Ohio University employee opened was not harmful.
OU Police Chief Andrew Powers says the envelope containing the substance has been collected and is in his department's custody as evidence.
It will be transported to a lab in Columbus Friday morning for further testing and examination.
Powers says the FBI and Ohio National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Team from Rickenbacker Air Force Base decontaminated the area and have determined it safe for occupancy.
Smith Street and the surrounding area were reopened as authorities left the scene around 7:45 p.m.
The West Union Street Office Center and Peoples Bank will both be open for normal business hours Friday.
Powers says the case is still under investigation, which means he won't release any specific details such as whether a return address was on the envelope or who opened it.
UPDATE 5:31 p.m. Ohio University officials say the female university employee who opened an envelope containing a white powdery substance Thursday morning has been released from the hospital.
The female had been admitted to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital to be monitored following the incident.
Ohio Universiy Police Chief Andrew Powers says the police department is working with the FBI and the National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Team from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base to handle the investigation.
An OU spokesperson previously said OUPD called in a WMD team from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base but has since corrected that information.
Powers says the National Guard team has not yet removed the suspicious envelope from the building and says there is nothing conclusive to report about the substance at this time.
According to a press release issued by the university, the OU employee opened the letter around 11:18 a.m. Thursday.
The police department evacuated the Legal Affairs and Peoples Bank sections of the West Union Street Office Center and "took other steps to isolate the potentially affected area."
Smith Street, which is adjacent to the building, remained closed Thursday afternoon and the area was barricaded.
Powers says he does not believe other areas of the building are affected and this is an isolated incident.
Ohio University expects both buildings will be open Friday and operate during normal office hours.
UPDATE 4:57 p.m. Ohio University Police Chief Andrew Powers says a female university employee who opened an envelope containing a white powdery substance Thursday morning is being monitored at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.
Powers says the police department is working with the FBI and the National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Team from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base to handle the investigation.
A university spokesperson previously said OUPD had called in a WMD team from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but has since corrected that information.
Powers says the National Guard team has not yet removed the suspicious envelope from the building and says there is nothing conclusive to report about the substance at this time.
According to a press release issued by the university, the OU employee opened the letter around 11:18 Thursday morning.
OUPD evacuated the Legal Affairs and Peoples Bank sections of the West Union Street Office Center and "took other steps to isolate the potentially affected area."
Powers said he does not believe other areas of the building are affected and believes that it is an isolated incident.
Ohio University expects both buildings will be open Friday and operate during normal office hours.
UPDATE 3:14 p.m. An Ohio University spokesperson says the OU Police Department is working with FBI and a Weapons of Mass Destruction Team from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after an employee opened a envelope containing a white powdery substance.
According to a press release, an OU employee opened the letter around 11:18 Thursday morning.
OUPD evacuated the Legal Affairs and Peoples Bank sections of the West Union Street Office Center and "took other steps to isolate the potentially affected area."
Police said they do not believe other areas of the building are affected and that it is an isolated incident.
The Ohio University Police Department evacuated a business on West Union Street Thursday morning after an employee opened an envelope containing a white, powdery substance.
According to a press release, an OU employee opened the letter at 11:18 a.m., and OUPD evacuated the Legal Affairs and Peoples Bank sections of the West Union Street Office Center and "took other steps to isolate the potentially affected area."
Police said they do not believe other areas of the building are affected at this time, and that it is an isolated incident.
Both the Legal Affairs office and People's Bank did not respond to phone calls at 1:35 p.m.
An investigation is underway.