Peabody Fire, Federal authorities investigate hazmat mail

PEABODY – Federal authorities are investigating a suspicious envelope that was delivered to a Page Street home Monday night.Residents of 17 Page St. called police around 6:30 p.m. after one person opened an envelope that was addressed and mailed to the home, according to police.”When the person opened the envelope some white powder spilled out,” Police Lt. Dennis Bonaiuto said.No evacuations were ordered Monday night and no one was injured.A state hazardous materials crew, the Peabody Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s Office were called in to assess the envelope. The crews were on scene for four hours.”The [Peabody] Fire Chief assisting law enforcement activated a regional hazmat team response to assess an object of concern that was sent to a state lab for analysis,” said Jennifer Meith, spokeswoman for Fire Marshal Stephen Coan.Bonaiuto confirmed the envelope would be sent to a state lab for analysis and said inspectors from the U.S. Postal Service and the FBI would be investigating.He declined to speculate on whether the envelope was sent maliciously.”They’re going to do a very thorough investigation,” Bonaiuto said.