Detroit Juvenile Courthouse Evacuated over Anthrax Scare

March 11, 2005
Threat came two days after scares at other Michigan courthouses

DETROIT (AP) - A juvenile courthouse was evacuated Friday after a staff member opened an envelope sent to a judge that contained a mysterious white powder.

The powder appeared to be benign and the threat a hoax, said John Roach, a spokesman for the Wayne County sheriff's department, which handles courthouse security.

The Lincoln Hall of Juvenile Justice was evacuated at about 9 a.m. EST and was closed for the day, Roach said.

The FBI was investigating, he said.

The threat came two days after anthrax scares at two other area courthouses - Detroit's Frank Murphy Hall of Justice and at 48th District Court in Oakland County's Bloomfield Township.