Over a period of three weeks, several suspicious packages were sent to various businesses in the downtown Portland area, including Portland State, The U.S. District Courthouse, the Port of Portland Building, the Hilton Hotel, Lloyd Center Mall and Oregon Health and Science University. All of the envelopes contained a white powder, alerting the attention of local police and fire departments as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Over a period of three weeks, several suspicious packages were sent to various businesses in the downtown Portland area, including Portland State, The U.S. District Courthouse, the Port of Portland Building, the Hilton Hotel, Lloyd Center Mall and Oregon Health and Science University. All of the envelopes contained a white powder, alerting the attention of local police and fire departments as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Around noon on May 10, one such package was discovered at the PSU Market Center Building. A human resources employee found the package and called Campus Public Safety, who then alerted Portland Fire and Rescue and Portland Police as per university protocol. The powder was tested and found to be harmless, and around 1:30 p.m. the fire department declared that there was no immediate danger.
No arrests have been made in the case, and local FBI would not comment on whether or not a suspect had been apprehended. However, Portland FBI “believe we have stopped the sender’s ability to send future letters,” Beth Anne Steel, Portland FBI spokeswoman said. A press release regarding the incident issued by the FBI on May 11 echoes Steel’s statement, and few details are being released due to the ongoing investigation.
KATU news reported on May 17 that several anonymous sources said the envelopes were sent from the Multnomah County Jail and that two envelopes had the word “anthrax” written on them. As of yet, this information has not been confirmed by the FBI, Portland Police or Portland Fire Bureau.
Another suspicious package was found on PSU’s campus between Smith Momorial Student Union and Neuberger Hall on May 21. Upon further investigation, however, it was found that this package was no related to the previous incidents. For more information on the May 21 incident, see the news brief on page 3.
While incidents such as these can shock the community, the likelihood of such a situation being serious is low, according to Paul Corah, Portland Fire and Rescue public information officer. “The majority of the packages are false,” he said. “The post office has sniffers which prescreen the mail before it is sent.”
“Every time someone sends a hoax device or a threatening letter through the mail, that is a potential federal violation,” Steel said. Sending hoax substances or threatening letters through the mail is considered a federal offense. The charge of sending a threatening letter carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, and there is a maximum penalty of five years in prison for sending a hoax device.
The FBI will become involved in these cases, but the initial response to these kinds of situations is by local police and fire bureaus. “Generally when these things happen there is a 911 call to police, who contact the Hazmat team if need be,” Steel said.
PSU has strict protocol in place to handle suspicious packages and letters, according to Direct of Public Safety Phillip Zerzan. “CPSO officers will respond and conduct an assessment to determine if additional resources are needed. Issues such as the credibility of the threat as well as the totality of the circumstances are considered,” he said. “Our efforts are then directed at limiting the potential exposure by isolating the area as well as other steps.”
Once the investigation is turned over to the police and fire departments they follow their own set of protocols. “We respond to the scene and isolate the package and anyone who has been in contact with the package,” Corah said.
The tests are conducted by a local hazardous materials team, which consists of eight people who are specially trained and wear specialized gear when conducting examinations on packages. “If it is tested and it comes back safe, we turn it over to the FBI,” Corah said. “There’s a variety of tests, and it takes about 40 minutes to complete them all,” he said.
PSU community members are asked to remain aware of their surroundings and to know the proper procedure for handling suspicious materials. “PSU students encountering something like this should first call the Campus Public Safety Office, who will then make a determination of what course of action to take,” said Sargent Pete Simpson of PPB.
