Suspicious package at judicial branch building found to be harmless

A suspicious envelope that brought a hazardous materials crew to the state's judicial branch building in Des Moines this morning turned out to be harmless.Lt. Mark Logsdon of the Iowa State Patrol said the package contained something that looked like crumpled up toilet paper in a sealed container.

The hazard materials crew removed the item, tested it and found it posed no danger, Logsdon said.

"There was absolutely no concern or safety issue at all with the inhabitants of the building or any visitors," Logsdon said.

Logsdon said the package had never been intended for the judicial building and had been addressed to another courthouse, possibly in Virginia.

However, the package had a return address of Iowa's judicial building, which houses the Iowa Supreme Court. When the package did not have the proper postage it was sent to the return address.

"It was never intended for us and had nothing to do with any kind of issues or matters that are going on in Iowa," Logsdon said.

The state patrol continues to investigate the matter along with federal authorities.