Sheriffs in at least 20 Oregon counties have received strange letters in the mail this week, but initial reports that one of the envelopes contained a white powder are false.
News stories initially said Monday that Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer developed a rash and was hospitalized after he opened a letter containing white powder.
Palmer said Tuesday those stories are inaccurate.
He said the envelope he opened contained a rambling letter, but no powder. He did feel numbness in his lips and burning in his arms, but did not have any visible rash or symptoms.
Palmer said to be safe, he went to the hospital.
“It was my intent to go to the hospital to get a blood test, and see if there was something toxic or caustic that could be harmful to me," Palmer said. "And they went into a full hazmat situation at the hospital.”
Palmer said he was released after seven hours and is back at work. Two other people in his office went through a decontamination procedure as a precaution.
More than 20 other sheriffs have reported receiving similar envelopes. Some have the phrase “shock wave” as a return address, and contain rambling letters.
According to the FBI, field testing by hazmat crews has not found any toxic substance in any of the letters.
Courtesy of Association of Oregon Counties
/A letter sent to the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office on Monday is believed to be one of a series of suspicious packages mailed to government offices across the state.
Copyright 2015 Oregon Public Broadcasting
