ROSWELL, GA (WSB/CNN) - The FBI is investigating threatening letters sent to a congressional candidate in Georgia and several of her neighbors. At least one person was exposed to the white powdery substance found inside the envelopes.
Roswell Police went door to door on Thursday looking for suspicious mailers sent to GOP congressional candidate Karen Handel and several of her neighbors. "It's pretty crazy because that doesn't really happen in this neighborhood,” Melissa Lentz said.
One of Lentz's friends got that letter. "Karen Handel lives in our neighborhood and so all of her immediate neighbors received it and there was a white powdery substance as well in it. It basically said take a sniff and join Karen in the hospital," Lentz said.
"Resident received a letter, an envelope in their mailbox. They opened it up and there was a white powdery substance inside their envelope," said Lisa Holland of the Roswell Police. Holland says the FBI and postal inspector are now joining in on the investigation.
Police say they won't tolerate any kind of threat, especially those related to a political campaign. "We've been having a lot of issues with political signs over the past months. This has been just a situation that's been ongoing throughout the campaign on both sides,” Holland said.
"It's scary. I can't believe it's happening here," said Joe Milholland said. The incident kept Milholland from getting home. "I don't think there's a place for violent rhetoric anywhere,” he said.
Authorities say that nobody in the neighborhood has displayed any signs of illness.
Handel's opponent, Jon Ossoff, condemned the threats and hired a security detail. The election for the hotly contested seat is on Tuesday.
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