- A letter containing what investigators are calling a ‘biohazard’ has been sent to a Pennsylvania police barracks and has sickened three employees
- State police and federal authorities say two state troopers and a civilian staff member became ill Thursday
- They became sick immediately after one of the troopers opened the letter at the Carlisle barracks and were taken to a hospital
- The three employees were discharged from the hospital Thursday night and returned to work Friday
- The FBI is examining the letter and the envelope containing it
A letter containing what investigators are calling a ‘biohazard’ has been sent to a Pennsylvania police barracks, putting three employees in hospital.
State police and federal authorities say two state troopers and a civilian staff member became ill Thursday afternoon immediately after one of the troopers opened the letter at the Carlisle barracks and were taken to a hospital.
The barracks was evacuated for several hours.
The three employees were discharged from the hospital Thursday night and returned to work Friday.
The FBI is examining the letter and the envelope containing it.
Police also said that the US Postal Service is aiding in the investigation to try to determine where the letter came from, according to The Sentinel.
Trooper Brent Miller says the investigation has ‘ruled out all serious biohazards’ but he can’t provide further information on what the letter contained.
The Pennsylvania State Police barracks in South Middleton Township is seen in the above stock image. A letter containing what investigators are calling a ‘biohazard’ has been sent there and has sickened three employees
He says the letter was addressed to the trooper who opened it.
Earlier reports from news outlets stated that the letter was sent from a prison, but those reports were incorrect, according to authorities.
At around 2.05pm on Thursday, two state troopers and a civilian employee of the Pennsylvania State Police were rushed to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facility in Carlisle.
Trooper Brent Miller said that the state police in Carlisle receives large volumes of correspondence.
Miller said they take precautions whenever a package appears suspicious.
However, due to this high volume, not every single letter can be examined beforehand,’ Miller said.
‘After the incident yesterday, appropriate measures were taken to ensure the safety of our employees and to reopen the station to continue police operations when it was safe to do so.
‘Incidents like this are fortunately rare and a thorough investigation is underway.’
The Cumberland County Hazmat team quickly arrived on the scene and the barracks were evacuated.