SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation after mail with a toxic substance arrived at the Sedgwick County Court House Monday.
The Division of Finance employee who was exposed was released from the hospital and is recovering at home, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.
Three other county employees are experiencing minor symptoms from the incident but continue to work.
The employee brought the mail to her workstation on the eighth floor of the courthouse and began opening it. When opening one of the parcels addressed from the Moorish Nationale Republic Federale Gobernmete – Societas Republic ea al Maurikanos, she noticed an odor and a powdery substance located in the envelope. Within a short time, the employee began to experience respiratory issues and skin irritation.
Once county personnel were notified, they called the Wichita Fire Department and shut down ventilation on the eighth floor of the courthouse.
The employee experiencing respiratory issues was removed from the Finance office, decontaminated and transported to a local hospital for evaluation, according to Blick.
Three additional Finance employees, two Courthouse police officers and two Sheriff Deputies were also decontaminated as a precaution.
A Hazmat ID test determined the powdery substance in the envelope was diaminotoluene, according to Blick.
The Sheriff’s Office contacted the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force who responded. The Sheriff’s Office retained the parcel and is cooperating with the FBI in the investigation.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after mail with a toxic substance arrived at the Sedgwick County Court House.
On Monday afternoon, an employee working in the Sedgwick County Division of Finance retrieved mail addressed to their department on the first floor of the Sedgwick County Courthouse, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.
The employee brought the mail to her workstation on the eighth floor of the courthouse and began opening it. When opening one of the parcels she noticed an odor and a powdery substance located in the envelope. Within a short time, the employee began to experience respiratory issues and skin irritation.
Once county personnel were notified, they called the Wichita Fire Department and shut down ventilation on the eighth floor of the courthouse.
The employee experiencing respiratory issues was removed from the Finance office, decontaminated and transported to a local hospital for evaluation, according to Blick.
Three additional Finance employees, two Courthouse police officers and two Sheriff Deputies were also decontaminated as a precaution.
A Hazmat ID test determined the powdery substance in the envelope was diaminotoluene, according to Blick.
The Sheriff’s Office contacted the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force who responded. The Sheriff’s Office retained the parcel and is cooperating with the FBI in the investigation.