LOGAN, Utah, Oct. 4, 2018 (Gephardt Daily/UPI) — Officials said Thursday afternoon “there is no risk or concern to the public’s health” at the Logan home of a man taken into federal custody Wednesday in connection with the toxin ricin mailed to the White House and the Pentagon.
A news release from the Bear River Health Department said officials “completed a site review with the FBI in conjunction with their recent investigation on 200 West in Logan. After being briefed by the FBI and having been given access to the site, it is clear there is no risk or concern to the public’s health at this location.”
William Clyde Allen III, 39, was taken into custody shortly after a noontime raid on his Logan home, in the area of 200 West and 400 North, and booked into the Davis County Jail on suspicion of terrorism.
Law enforcement officials on the case released a brief statement:
“The Salt Lake City Division of the FBI has taken William Clyde Allen into custody per a probable cause arrest warrant authorized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah,” the FBI statement said.
“Per the USAO, a complaint is expected to be filed in federal court on Friday.”
FBI investigators descended on Allen’s home on Wednesday morning, and spent hours searching the residence, collecting evidence while wearing hazmat suits and breathing apparatus to protect them from any possible toxic chemicals or compounds.
Allen was booked into the Davis County Jail at 5:59 p.m. Wednesday. He is being held without bail.
The packages containing the toxic ricin ingredient were addressed to Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, according to Military Times. Another envelope was addressed to Donald Trump.
The packages mailed to the Pentagon triggered an alarm in the mail processing area there. The package sent to the White House was intercepted by the Secret Service.
Allen is a Navy veteran and served from October 1998 to October 2002, according to Military Times. He served aboard combat support ships Supply and Detroit.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
