After a morning of heightened alert, the DeKalb County Courthouse is prepared to resume normal operations following the evacuation due to a suspicious package scare. The building was cleared for several hours on Thursday, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, when a questionable envelope triggered security procedures. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the DeKalb County Marshals, in conjunction with Decatur Fire, responded to the incident, which concluded with the determination that the package contained non-hazardous materials.
According to details from the same FOX 5 Atlanta report, the suspicious envelope was discovered in the vicinity of the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk’s Office and was later revealed to contain a green, gel-like substance sent by a prison inmate. Despite the initial alarm, the contents were deemed safe and the courthouse was cleared to reopen by afternoon.
The evacuation, initiated by a mysterious odor, was further explained by a spokesperson for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office who mentioned that the incident will be "further investigated for possible criminal charges," as obtained by Decaturish. Atlanta News First had earlier reported that the evacuation was due to an "unidentified odor" that prompted the initial concerns about a potential threat.
Adding to the official statements, Decatur Fire Chief Tony Washington clarified the situation, saying, "The package was not hazardous and the scene was terminated," in a statement to Decaturish. Meanwhile, related to the odor, a DeKalb Fire Rescue spokesperson explained in a roundabout way to Decaturish that Decatur Fire Rescue is addressing the event, and DeKalb was present for a "medical emergency."
The courthouse is expected to reopen yesterday without further incidents. As investigations continue, authorities seek to identify the sender of the envelope, who may face charges pending the outcome.
