Letter with powder, threat sent to S.D. Senate candidate
3:10 PM
Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Federal authorities are investigating a letter sent to the campaign headquarters of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joel Dykstra containing threats and a white substance that preliminary tests indicated was baby powder.
Dykstra, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was not at the Sioux Falls office when his staff opened the correspondence Tuesday and called 911.
Dykstra planned a mid-afternoon news conference to discuss it.
Jim Sideras, a Sioux Falls Fire Rescue division chief, said the agency followed the normal procedure of responding with a hazardous material team that tested the white substance and sent it to South Dakota State University in Brookings for more analysis.
Sideras said he didn't see the letter but was told it included threats to the Dykstra campaign and the GOP.
Sioux Falls city investigators informed the FBI and U.S. Postal Service, neither of which immediately returned telephone calls seeking comment.
"I can confirm there's an ongoing investigation involving federal authorities and the Sioux Falls Police Department," said U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley.
Campaign staff members were kept out of the building for a couple of hours as investigators worked at the scene, Sideras said.
"Everybody takes these very seriously because we just don't know what it could be," he said of the response that included police, ambulance and city health department.
Fire officials know how to handle them because they're not unusual, Sideras said.
"Since 9/11 it's not uncommon. We don't go on them daily. But for a while there in 2001 and 2002, they were almost a daily occurrence for us. It would be some type of powder substance and people are very cautious about that," he said.
"I think some were pranks but I don't think people realize it's taken very seriously. Although it might be a prank for you doing it, for everyone else and the federal authorities, it's taken very seriously."
Dykstra, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was not at the Sioux Falls office when his staff opened the correspondence Tuesday and called 911.
Dykstra planned a mid-afternoon news conference to discuss it.
Jim Sideras, a Sioux Falls Fire Rescue division chief, said the agency followed the normal procedure of responding with a hazardous material team that tested the white substance and sent it to South Dakota State University in Brookings for more analysis.
Sideras said he didn't see the letter but was told it included threats to the Dykstra campaign and the GOP.
Sioux Falls city investigators informed the FBI and U.S. Postal Service, neither of which immediately returned telephone calls seeking comment.
"I can confirm there's an ongoing investigation involving federal authorities and the Sioux Falls Police Department," said U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley.
Campaign staff members were kept out of the building for a couple of hours as investigators worked at the scene, Sideras said.
"Everybody takes these very seriously because we just don't know what it could be," he said of the response that included police, ambulance and city health department.
Fire officials know how to handle them because they're not unusual, Sideras said.
"Since 9/11 it's not uncommon. We don't go on them daily. But for a while there in 2001 and 2002, they were almost a daily occurrence for us. It would be some type of powder substance and people are very cautious about that," he said.
"I think some were pranks but I don't think people realize it's taken very seriously. Although it might be a prank for you doing it, for everyone else and the federal authorities, it's taken very seriously."
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