Hazmat teams called in after suspicious substance found in envelope at Va. Supreme Court

Monday, February 12th 2007, 4:13 pm

By: News On 6

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Hazardous materials teams were called to the state Supreme Court building Monday after a worker opened an envelope containing a brown, flaky substance, authorities said.

The entrance to the Supreme Court was cordoned off and its ventilation system was shut down, but the offices were not evacuated.

Tests showed the substance was not hazardous, said Capitol Police Chief Kim Lettner.

The state employee was alone on the sixth floor when he opened the envelope, Lettner said. The worker immediately washed his hands, called Capitol Police and isolated himself until the Virginia State Police and the Richmond Fire Department hazardous materials teams arrived, she said.

The envelope also contained a letter, but Lettner said she could not provide more details, citing the investigation.