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Suspicious Powder mailed to McCain’s Denver headquarters is non-hazardous
On August 21, 2008 at about 3:15 p.m., the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Parker-South Metro Fire Department responded
to a call regarding a suspicious envelope containing an unknown powdery substance that had been mailed to the Denver metro
campaign headquarters of Senator John McCain in Centennial.
The suspicious incident was investigated by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the South Metro/Parker Fire Department,
the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Postal Service Inspectors and the Colorado National Guard Civil Support Team.
As the result of the detailed investigation, it has been determined that the letter and powdery substance mailed to McCain’s
campaign office was non-hazardous and non-lethal.
Five McCain staff members were taken to area hospitals as a precautionary measure and 12 staff members were evaluated by fire
department personnel at the scene of the incident. In addition, the first Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy on scene was quarantined
as a precautionary measure until it was determined that the suspicious substance did not present a threat. The 17 campaign
staff members and the deputy went through a standard decontamination process, as an additional precautionary measure.
The investigation into this matter has determined that the suspicious envelope and substance were mailed by an inmate of the
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Detentions Facility. The inmate suspected of mailing the suspicious material is identified
as Marc Harold Ramsey.
Ramsey has been held at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Detentions facility since September 17, 2007, on a $350,000 bond,
regarding allegations of felony menacing, harassment and felony second degree assault on a peace officer.
As the result of the incident currently under investigation, Ramsey could face a variety of Federal felony charges, to be
determined by the Office of The United States Attorney.
Sheriff’s Office participates in DNC security efforts
Between August 22- 28, 2008, members of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Denver Police Department providing
additional security during the 2008 Democratic National Convention held in Denver. Specially trained Deputies were assigned
at the Pepsi Center to assist with civil unrest, as well as respond to any critical incident within the City of Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County during the convention.
The Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad also played a significant role responding to several calls of suspicious packages throughout
the week.
No significant events were reported thanks in part to the extensive planning and preparation by the Denver Police Department
and supporting law enforcement agencies.
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