Mucky mail causes concern, building evacuated

Some suspicious material found on a package with an Oakland Circuit judge’s name on it caused a building evacuation and some tense minutes for authorities Thursday until it was determined it was just dirt.

Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies and the Waterford Township fire department both responded to the Oakland County Materials Management building, 1200 N. Telegraph east of M-24 and north of Pontiac Lake about 3 p.m. Thursday when the package, which contained no return address, caused concerns.

The package was placed in a different room to avoid possible contamination. The envelope, addressed to Judge Linda Hallmark, contained an “unknown grainy substance.” The county’s hazardous materials team inspected the mailings and tested the substance, determined to be non-hazardous and likely several specks of dirt.

The letter address to the judge  was a request for a cancellation of an upcoming hearing date.