By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – Dowagiac Police Department officers were called to Ameriwood's factory on Spaulding Street early Friday afternoon to investigate a suspicious package that arrived in the mail.
After examining the contents of the package, officers requested assistance from the Berrien County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and Haz-Mat team.
As a safety measure, police evacuated Ameriwood, which in May announced 170 job cuts by July 18. The package was removed from the offices by a bomb squad member. It was scanned with X-ray equipment, but results were inconclusive.
It was determined that the package would have to be destroyed to prevent any possible injury. The bomb squad then destroyed the package. It was determined that there were no explosives or biohazardous materials inside. The matter remains under investigation.