‘Suspicious substance’ at Regional Justice Center found to be nontoxic

The Metropolitan Police Department responded Monday afternoon to the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas after a “suspicious substance” was found in the mail.

Metro’s hazardous materials squad was dispatched just before 1 p.m. to the 200 Lewis Ave. center to investigate the substance discovered in a piece of mail, said Larry Hadfield, department spokesman.

The substance was described as “powdery,” but as of 3:30 p.m. it was found to be nontoxic, said Mary Ann Price, district court spokeswoman.

Hadfield could not say whether people had been evacuated, but a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter who works out of the courthouse said there was little activity around the courthouse except for the emergency vehicles parked on the south side of the building.

Metro began clearing the area before 4 p.m., and Price said the substance was collected for further testing.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find her on Twitter: @rachelacrosby