White powder in mail sent to Toledo police called harmless

Members of the Toledo Fire Department in protective gear leave the Safety Building downtown after a box containing an unknown white powder was unknowingly opened by police officers yesterday afternoon. Tests showed the substance was harmless.

The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Two undercover Toledo police officers went to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center yesterday for observation after coming into contact with a white powder that had been mailed to the downtown police station.

The officers were on the fourth floor of the downtown Safety Building at about 1 p.m. and opened a box addressed to the police department, Capt. Ron Navarro said. They went to the hospital as a precaution.

The Toledo Fire Department tested the substance and found nothing harmful. The powder probably came from the packing, Captain Navarro said.

Hazmat teams were called to the Safety Building, and Erie Street was closed for the staging of fire equipment.

The elevator to the fourth floor was turned off, but operations otherwise were not interrupted, Captain Navarro said.

Nobody was allowed to enter or leave the emergency room at St. Vincent once the officers arrived, hospital spokesman Sarah Bednarski said. Patients in the emergency room were kept away from the officers as a precaution.

Members of the Toledo Fire Department in protective gear leave the Safety Building downtown after a box containing an unknown white powder was unknowingly opened by police officers yesterday afternoon. Tests showed the substance was harmless.