The substance tested negative for hazardous material, Hernando deputies said. The FDLE will perform more tests.

SPRING HILL – A Spring Hill family received a package from China on Monday (Jan. 7) that contained a white, powdery substance, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

The substance tested negative for hazardous material but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement plans more testing.

There were no injuries reported from this incident. Hernando deputies are warning people that, if they receive a package from someone they don’t know, or a company they don’t do business with, to not open it it but to call authorities.

Deputies said that they and the Hernando County HAZMAT team were called to Copper Hill Road in Spring Hill , just before 5 p.m. Monday because residents had received a suspicious package that contained a white powdery substance.

Upon arrival, deputies said they met with Angelia and David Barrett, the residents of the home. The Barretts told deputies they received a package from China in the mail, earlier in the day. Mrs. Barrett  said she did not recall ordering anything from China, but opened the package to see what was inside.

Inside the box were two silver bags. When Mrs. Barrett opened one of the bags, a white powdery substance spilled out onto the kitchen counter. She cleaned up the substance and placed both bags and the box outside. The Barretts then called the sheriff.

Deputies, wearing personal protection equipment, securely bagged the items and removed them from the Barretts’ property. Mr. and Mrs. Barret, and the children inside the residence, immediately washed themselves and evacuated the home.

The Hernando County HAZMAT team came to the scene and conducted multiple field tests on the unknown powdery substance. All tests showed negative indicators for any hazardous material.

The substance was removed from the scene by deputies and will be further tested by FDLE labs.

Photo showing Hazmat response courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Hernando Sheriff | Public Safety | Suspicious Package | White Powder | Tampabay News

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