White powdery substance found in letter sent to Cedar Rapids trucking company

CEDAR RAPIDS - A white, powdery substance was found in a letter sent to a freight trucking company in Cedar Rapids, police said Monday.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said police and firefighters responded at 9 a.m. to Don Hummer Trucking, 505 33rd Ave. SW, after someone reported finding a suspicious substance in a letter.

Buelow said only two employees were affected. They were in a conference room where the letter was opened. Fifty to 60 employees were in other parts of the building and were not affected, Buelow said.

Officials determined the substance was not harmful, Buelow said.

The person who sent the letter, who police have not identified, had applied for a job but was not hired, a company representative told The Gazette. The police department and postal inspectors are continuing to investigate, and police said charges are likely.

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