Hazmat team reponds to suspicious powder in Crystal Lake neighborhood

A suspicious powder found in an envelope Wednesday evening in Crystal Lake drew the response from a hazardous materials team, Crystal Lake officials said.

The powder found on the 1200 block of Sandalwood Drive at about 8 p.m. turned out to be powder used to separate mail by the United States Postal Service, officials said.

Crystal Lake Police Deputy Chief Dennis Harris said the powder was discovered when the homeowner opened his mail.

Harris said the resident contacted the Crystal Lake Fire Department at about 8 p.m., and the MABAS Division 5 Hazmat Response Team was called in to ensure the area was safe.

The area was secured and the letter confiscated, Harris said, but tests showed the powder was non-hazardous.

"The address window of the letter was torn and the powder used by the postal service to process mass mailers fell into the envelope," he said. "Apparently the Hazmat team has seen other situations like this in the past."

He added no one was injured in the incident and homeowners were allowed back into their homes following the investigation.