Man arrested, accused of placing powdery substance at Merced HSA locations, police say

6:30 p.m. Thursday update

A man has been arrested for allegedly placing a powdery substance at two Merced County government buildings Thursday, according to the Merced Police Department.

Police said officers responded to Merced County Human Services Agency locations at 2115 Wardrobe Avenue and 1557 W. Main Street for reports of a suspicious powder on the property.

Officers obtained video surveillance and identified the suspect as Robert Moore, 37, according to police.

Moore was located in Atwater and arrested. Police said Moore admitted to placing the powder on the properties, but did not provide details for his motives.

Moore was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of two counts of felony criminal terrorist threats, according to jail records.

11:30 a.m. Thursday report

Merced Fire crews investigated two possible hazmat situations at Merced County Human Services Agency buildings on Thursday, according to fire officials.

According to Merced City Fire Department Battalion Chief Mickey Brunelli, units responded to the location in the 2100 block of Wardrobe Avenue at about 8:30 a.m. to a report of a yellow substance found around a mailbox outside off the facility.

Units arrived on scene and were unable to identify the substance at that time, Brunelli said. A request was made to Cal Fire Merced County Fire Department for hazmat resources to assist, according to Brunelli.

“Since then we have made an entry into the area and did determine that the substance is to be a sulfur powder substance, no hazard to human beings at this time, Brunelli said.

According to Brunelli, crews also responded at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, to a second reported incident of a substance found at the Merced County Human Services Agency location in the 1500 block of West Main Street.

Brunelli said the substance was located on the south end of the building as well as locations along the sidewalk.

The substance was tested and found to be the same sulfur powder-type substance.

Brunelli said no injuries were reported at either location and it appears there will be no significant environmental impacts from the incidents.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 12:12 PM.