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Inmate sent powder in letter at Pinellas justice center, cops say

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 14, 2009

Updated: 05/14/2009 02:44 pm

The letter containing suspicious powder that was intercepted at the county's criminal justice center today was sent by an inmate at the Pinellas County Jail and addressed to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, the Pinellas Sheriff's Office said.

The powdery substance inside the letter is being analyzed but is not believed to be harmful, said sheriff's spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda.

The name of the inmate has not yet been released but will be eventually, said Barreda.

The center at 14250 49th St. was not evacuated, said Pinellas Sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha. Rather, the area in which the letter was intercepted was secured.

The county's hazardous materials team is determining whether the substance is toxic, Pasha said. The team has the ability to do preliminary tests on site to determine whether the substance poses any harm, she said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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