KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho | Powder found at Washington Trust Bank not harmful

Powder found at Washington Trust Bank not harmful

SPOKANE, Wash. - HazMat crews determined that a suspicious powder discovered in an letter at the Washington Trust building at Sprague and Post Friday morning is not harmful to humans.

Officials say the the powder, a metallic additive used in lubricants, was found in a letter addressed to the Lukins & Annis attorneys' office.

Police who are working to find out where the letter originated say a Postal Inspector is going through the evidence to determine whether an actual crime was committed. They said they are not sure the letter was meant to harass the recipient.

Fire officials say the letter was initially received just before 10:00 a.m. in a mailroom on the 4th floor. Concerned employees alerted building management after finding a suspicious grainy substance.

400-600 people remained inside the building and those exposed to the powder were temporarily isolated.

The building was not evacuated, though for a time Sprague was completely blocked off except for STA buses.

On Thursday the federal building on W. Riverside downtown was evacuated after a suspicious substance was discovered in a letter at the Post Office. HazMat crews determined that the letter, sent to a Spokane judge from a Florida inmate, contained only crushed antacid.