Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 12, 2007 10:30:55 GMT -5
Blackfeet complex closes after getting threatening letter
White powder substance causes stir
By RICHARD PETERSON
Tribune Staff Writer
A hazardous materials team from Malmstrom Air Force Base is headed to
Browning this morning to assist the FBI and Blackfeet tribal police in
analyzing a
threatening letter sent to the tribe Wednesday.
The letter contained a white powder substance and a paste-like substance,
tribal officials said.
It was postmarked from California and began with the words, "Catch me if you
can, please," said Blackfeet Tribal Business Council Vice Chairman Roger
Running Crane. The letter, addressed to the tribe and opened in the tribal
complex's mailroom by a clerk at about 10 a.m. Wednesday, was immediately
given to
a security officer and placed in a plastic container. The officer placed the
sealed container inside a separate room then sealed it off from the
building's ventilation system.
Tribal employees were sent home at about noon and the complex was closed
until further notice. Residents are being asked to stay away from the
complex. A
makeshift command center was set up in an adjacent building, which houses
the tribe's legal department, said Running Crane, who is also the incident
commander.
The incident is being handled as a criminal matter.
"There was no panic and everything was handled calmly," said Running Crane,
adding that the tribe followed its disaster plan throughout the day.
The two employees who had direct contact with the letter and envelope were
taken to the Indian Health Services hospital in Browning for examination.
The
employees were tested but nothing immediately harmful was discovered,
Running
Crane said.
Tribal employees are being asked to listen to local radio stations for
updates. If nothing hazardous is found in the letter, employees will be
asked to
return as soon as possible.
White powder substance causes stir
By RICHARD PETERSON
Tribune Staff Writer
A hazardous materials team from Malmstrom Air Force Base is headed to
Browning this morning to assist the FBI and Blackfeet tribal police in
analyzing a
threatening letter sent to the tribe Wednesday.
The letter contained a white powder substance and a paste-like substance,
tribal officials said.
It was postmarked from California and began with the words, "Catch me if you
can, please," said Blackfeet Tribal Business Council Vice Chairman Roger
Running Crane. The letter, addressed to the tribe and opened in the tribal
complex's mailroom by a clerk at about 10 a.m. Wednesday, was immediately
given to
a security officer and placed in a plastic container. The officer placed the
sealed container inside a separate room then sealed it off from the
building's ventilation system.
Tribal employees were sent home at about noon and the complex was closed
until further notice. Residents are being asked to stay away from the
complex. A
makeshift command center was set up in an adjacent building, which houses
the tribe's legal department, said Running Crane, who is also the incident
commander.
The incident is being handled as a criminal matter.
"There was no panic and everything was handled calmly," said Running Crane,
adding that the tribe followed its disaster plan throughout the day.
The two employees who had direct contact with the letter and envelope were
taken to the Indian Health Services hospital in Browning for examination.
The
employees were tested but nothing immediately harmful was discovered,
Running
Crane said.
Tribal employees are being asked to listen to local radio stations for
updates. If nothing hazardous is found in the letter, employees will be
asked to
return as soon as possible.