St. Louis hazmat team investigates suspicious package

MEHLVILLE — The St. Louis County hazardous materials team is investigating a white powder discovered in a package, but authorities do not believe it’s toxic.

Scott Barthelmass, who heads the team, says an office worker opened a package containing the powdery substance Tuesday. The Mehlville Fire Protection District and the hazmat team responded to a leased office in the First National Bank building in south St. Louis County.

He says the powder was seized by the FBI and will be taken to the Missouri Crime Laboratory for testing.

The exposed worker showed no symptoms of contamination. She and about 50 other workers in the building were decontaminated as a precautionary measure.