Portion of courthouse closed as hazmat crews identify suspicious powder found in envelope

The second floor of the Cummings Courthouse in downtown Baltimore was placed on lockdown Monday afternoon as hazardous materials crews investigate a suspicious powder.

The Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office said a court employee on the second floor opened a letter addressed from an inmate from a state correctional facility. The letter contained an unknown white power substance.

Around 2:40 p.m., the employee called the sheriff’s office, which enacted the established protocols for this type of incident.

City fire officials told 11 News that hazardous materials crews were called to the courthouse on North Calvert Street to identify the substance.

The public is advised to avoid the 100 block of North Calvert Street.

The sheriff’s office said three people that were nearby when the envelope was opened were isolated and taken to a medical facility for precaution.

Read more: WBAL