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LOGAN, Utah, Oct. 3, 2018 (Gephardt Daily/UPI) — Officials said Wednesday a former U.S. Navy sailor has been taken into custody in Logan in connection with the ricin mailed to the White House and the Pentagon this week.
Initial reports indicate the man, identified as William Clyde Allen III, was taken into custody by the FBI, according to Logan’s Herald-Journal.
The crime lab is now on scene in the area of 380 N. 200 West in Logan, and 200 West is closed between 400 North and 500 North as officials investigate.
FBI officials are warning people to avoid that area because hazardous chemicals may be involved.
It appears at this time the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
No further details were immediately provided.
Federal authorities are looking into at least three pieces of suspicious mail that were sent to the White House and Pentagon, and another to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, UPI reported Wednesday.
One was a letter addressed to President Donald Trump at the White House, and the other two were letters sent to the Pentagon that tested positive for the toxin ricin, authorities said Tuesday.
The U.S. Secret Service said the letter to Trump didn’t make inside the White House, but the agency didn’t say where it was intercepted.
“We are working jointly with our law enforcement partners to fully investigate this matter,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “Further, all threats directed towards the president, or any Secret Service protectee, are treated seriously and fully investigated.”
The Secret Service said the letter was found Monday.
Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating the two suspicious letters sent to the Pentagon. One was addressed to Defense Secretary James Mattis and the other to John Richardson, chief of naval operations.
Authorities said the letters were seized at a mail sorting facility on the Pentagon campus, but away from the military headquarters building. The letters tested positive for ricin during what officials called an initial field test, and are being further tested at the FBI lab.
Also Tuesday, Cruz’s campaign office in Houston received a letter that contained a “white powdery” substance.
Portions of the Phoenix Tower in Houston were evacuated. Tests later determined the substance wasn’t hazardous.
Ricin is a highly toxic protein obtained from the pressed seeds of the castor-oil plant.
