SUBJECT: Post Falls Post Office – White Powder

Date: October 26, 2001

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ramona Mobbs, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue at 773-2922 or Lieutenant Scot Haug, Post Falls Police Department at 773-3517.

  At approximately 7:00 a.m. this morning Post Office personnel reported seeing a white powdered substance in the parking lot of the Post Falls Post Office. Law enforcement from the Post Falls Police Department and fire personnel from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue arrived on scene shortly after and secured the area.

  Post Office personnel continued working within the building, however customers were not allowed into the building as a precautionary measure.

  Samples of the substance were gathered and the Regional Hazardous Materials Team was called in to neutralize and clean up the area.

  There are no injuries reported. The Post Office opened their doors to the public within three hours.

  It is unknown at this time what the substance is. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

  As a reminder after this morning’s event, anyone involved in taking part in a hoax of this type may be prosecuted federally. Anyone with any information on this incident is urged to contact the Post Falls Police Department and ask for Lieutenant Scot Haug (208) 773-6366.

AUTHOR: Kootenai County Fire and Rescue /Post Falls PD