Letter To Obama Had Suspicious Powder

Letter To Obama Had Suspicious Powder

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Two Springfield office buildings were locked down today after a letter addressed to President-elect Barack Obama was found to contain a suspicious powder.

Springfield Fire Department division chief Bob Reside says the powder turned out to be harmless.
Reside says the letter was opened about 3 p.m. at the Willard Ice Building, home to the state Department of Revenue, then transferred to the Department of Aging.

Reside did not know why the letter was moved. Staff at the Department of Aging called 911, and hazmat teams locked down both buildings for several hours.

He said the letter's return address was in Chicago, where a man suspected of sending it was taken into custody.

Chicago police could not confirm Monday evening that a suspect was in custody.

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