Police Close Binghamton Building For Hazmat Investigation
A mysterious message on an envelope received by a law office prompted police to shut down a landmark building in downtown Binghamton.
City police ordered people not to enter the Perry Building late Wednesday afternoon while firefighters and a Broome County hazmat team looked for potentially dangerous material inside.
A person briefed on the incident said authorities were called to a second-floor law office at 89 Court Street around 2:50 p.m.
Two women complained of tingling and numbness in their fingers after they handled an envelope. A cryptic message suggesting they get help appeared on the back of the item. The envelope apparently had been sent by a former client of the law firm.
The women were provided with disposable paper protective suits and blue latex gloves. They appeared to be in no distress as they walked from the office building to a fire department ambulance. The two women were transported to Lourdes Hospital for an evaluation.
The person familiar with the situation said the man who is believed to have sent the envelope previously had made threats involving physical force.
No powder or other substance was visible on the envelope, although there were signs something had spilled on it.
Two other people who were in the office at the time reported no ill effects.
Police closed Chenango Street between Court and Henry streets. Officers also placed yellow police tape around the east side of the Perry Building.
Police at the scene declined to comment and would not allow a reporter to speak with those who had been working elsewhere in the building. Requests for information were referred to police headquarters and no one in the department's administrative offices was available to comment.
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