Bomb threats emailed to administrators of five buildings in New Haven Thursday and white powder sent to several buildings in Hartford yesterday might be connected, according to Rick Fontana, New Haven’s director of emergency operations.
Police also said they are investigating two calls from office buildings downtown about white powder and the incidents might be connected to other similar calls.
Threats were made Thursday to Connecticut Mental Health Center building at 34 Park St., Continuum Of Care at 109 Legion Ave., Cornell Scott Hill Health Center at428 Columbus Ave., 441 Elm St. and 519 Norton Parkway, all in New Haven. Fontana said no white powder was located at those locations.
White powder was discovered at four locations in Hartford Thursday and the city’s fire chief said the substance turned out to be baby powder.
No arrests have been made in the case, but the U.S. Attorney's Office said 51-year-old Gary Gravelle, of New Haven, is being questioned in connection with them.
He was arrested on a supervised release violation unrelated to these cases and is in custody.
Gravelle is known to federal authorities. In 2013, he was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 70 months in prison for mailing threatening letters and he was released from federal prison in November 2015.
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New Haven police are urging anyone who receives a letter, parcel, package or delivered item from Gravelle to leave it alone and to call police.
A white powder incident was also reported at 25 North St. in Bristol, the First Bristol Federal Credit Union building, though it is unclear if it is related or if it was the same substance.
Several law enforcement agencies are investigating.
