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Monday, October 29, 2018

Crime / Emergency / Government

FBI Contacted about White Powder on Court Clerk's Doors

Posted By Kimberly Wear @kimberly_wear on Mon, Oct 29, 2018 at 12:33 PM

click to enlarge

A Hazmat suit protects personnel outside of the Courthouse Clerk’s Lobby as seen from inside the lobby. - COURTESY OF MICHELLE BISHOP

Courtesy of Michelle Bishop
A Hazmat suit protects personnel outside of the Courthouse Clerk’s Lobby as seen from inside the lobby.

The white substance found on the Humboldt County Court Clerk’s Office doors this morning has been sent for testing but results in the field “ruled out most common threats, including biological and chemical agents,” according to a release.

The court clerk’s office, located on the side of the courthouse, is closed for the day “out of an abundance of caution” but all other offices remaining under normal operations.

Read earlier coverage here and here.

“There was no indication of criminal activity or threats on the facility,” the release states. “Staff has also contacted the FBI, who has approved initiation of clean-up of the material.”

Release from the county of Humboldt:

This morning around 9 am the county was notified that there is a white substance on the door and entrance to the Court Clerk’s entrance of the County Courthouse, located at the 421 I Street. County Public Health is on site and has performed field tests and ruled out most common threats, including biological and chemical agents. Staff is taking samples of the material to an out of area lab for further testing.

There was no indication of criminal activity or threats on the facility. Staff has also contacted the FBI, who has approved initiation of clean-up of the material.

Out of an abundance of caution the public entrance to the Court Clerk’s office has been closed. All other functions of the courthouse remain open. We will provide more updates when more information becomes available.