Crushed medicine forces closure of bank, post office in Westcliffe

UPDATE 4 p.m.: The white powder found inside a package that forced the closure of a bank and post office in Westcliffe turned out to be crushed medicine, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

The employees who were quarantined have since been released after being cleaned up.

The medicine inside wasn’t a narcotic, and the package has been turned over to the postal inspector’s office.

Earlier

The Post Office and a First State Bank Branch Office in Westcliffe were closed while the Custer County Sheriff’s Office investigated a package that leaked white powder during delivery.

According to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office Tuesday morning, a package was leaking the “unknown white powdery substance” at the post office and was then “erroneously” sent to the First State Bank Branch office on Bassick Place.

Employees with the post office and the bank branch have been quarantined while a hazardous material team investigates. No injuries have been reported.

Bassick has been closed, according to CCSO. The post office was reopened as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.