Crystal Meth Mailed To Dutchess County Board of Elections, Temporarily Closing Office

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The Dutchess County Board of Elections (DCBOE) received a suspicious package on Monday from an unknown foreign sender via UPS.

The package does not appear to have targeted a specific political party, but rather the election process itself. According to board of election guidelines, a bipartisan team of Republicans and Democrats process mail from the USPS, FedEx and UPS.

Election officials said that due to their advanced training and heightened awareness, the team notified management about the suspicious piece of mail. The team, along with management, wearing personal protective equipment, then thoroughly examined the suspicious package. The elections commissioners contacted law enforcement, local Emergency Management Personnel and the Dutchess County HAZMAT team.

All staff members were instructed to wear masks and gloves, the HVAC system was turned off, the building was closed to the public, and a table was set up outside the building to assist voters that need services as Election Day draws nearer.

The staff members who discovered the suspicious package were quarantined and observed for any possible symptoms, and were then sent home as a precaution to shower and change their clothes.

So far, no staff members have reported any symptoms, according to election officials

Dutchess County HAZMAT personnel examined the suspicious package, carefully removed a substance from an envelope and tested it with advanced chemical and gaseous identification equipment. It was determined that the material was methamphetamine, more commonly known as "crystal meth."

The BOE says that during the three hours the building was closed, not a single voter was denied assistance.

"I commend our staff for performing their daily tasks with courage and attentiveness," Democrat Commissioner Hannah Black said. "These duties may seem routine but working in an elections office throughout these extremely polarizing times remains a challenge."

"The cowards that sent this dangerous chemical to our office failed in disrupting a single voter’s right to vote or harm any of our hardworking staff members," Black added. "These bad actors may hide in the shadows and endeavor to strike fear, but we will remain vigilant and fulfill our oaths of office by delivering free and fair elections to the good voters of Dutchess County."

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office detectives and personnel took possession of the suspicious package and the methamphetamine, and will be coordinating with state police and the FBI for a thorough investigation into the incident.

"I join my colleague Commissioner Black in commending our staff and am deeply appreciative of all law enforcement, the City of Poughkeepsie FD and emergency personnel that were critical in assisting us through this stressful and dangerous ordeal," Republican Commissioner Erik Haight said.

Agencies and partners that assisted the DCBOE included the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Dutchess County Emergency Management, Dutchess County HAZMAT, the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department, New York State Police, the FBI and the NYS Board of Elections.