DuPage County authorities have charged an Evanston woman for allegedly including what they described as “granular material” in a letter sent to the Illinois Tollway Authority that prompted a full police and fire response.
Cassandra Shepard, 28, of the 1400 block of Howard Street, appeared in DuPage County bond court Thursday, where bail was set at $5,000 on a felony disorderly conduct charge for making a false threat of a bomb or deadly substance.
Authorities said the material, which turned out to be non-hazardous, was included in an envelope along with some unpaid fine money. The letter was addressed to “Illinois Tollway Bitches” at the Downers Grove headquarters of the Tollway Authority, prosecutors said.
Shepard allegedly sent the letter on Sept. 15, and when it was received, it prompted a response by local, state and federal authorities, including a hazardous material team from the Naperville Fire Department, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the envelope included Shepard’s return address. She was taken in to custody Thursday. Her next court date is Oct. 6.
“Regardless of what was in the envelope or what Ms. Shepard’s intentions were when she allegedly mailed it, government employees have the right to feel safe at work and any threats to that safety will be taken very seriously,” State’s Atty. Robert Berlin said.
Cliff Ward is a freelancer.
