Police: Suspicious Substance Found at Quality Inn Not Dangerous; Federal Agents Involved

A substance found this morning at the Quality Inn & Suites on Bedford Street has been determined by state and federal authorities not to be hazardous or dangerous, police said.

"There is no danger to anyone," Lexington Police Capt. Manny Ferro said.

Ferro said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Joint Terrorism Taskforce had agents at the Quality Inn taking part in the investigation.

This morning, a cleaning person at the Quality Inn found a "suspicious substance" in room 3145 and alerted motel staff who contacted police around 9:30 this morning.

A manager at the Quality Inn said this afternoon that the substance, a white powder, was found on a table in the room.

Police are looking for a "person of interest" in the case and issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) this afternoon to area police, Ferro said, though he declined to give details about the person police are looking for.

The Secret Service is currently deciding whether it wants to accept jurisdiction in the case, Ferro said, and a criminal investigation is being looked into.

"We are still actively trying to put the pieces together," Ferro said. "We are considering a person of interest, though there is no warrant at this point."

Lexington police and fire officials also worked with members of the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad and Hazmat team, state fire marshals, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection's emergency response team. A mobile lab was set up to help officials determine whether the substance was hazardous.

The investigation moved from a Tier 1 hazardous materials response to a Tier 2 response around 12:30 p.m., which Lexington Fire Chief William Middlemiss said was done so additional resources would be made available.

Ferro said local officials followed protocol with alerting state and federal authorities, who determined there is no danger or hazardous substance. The room has been cleaned, and the area, including the motel building, was reopened as of about 3 p.m.