Postal Notes: Nail Polish Sets Off Nerve Gas Scare and Other News

Postal Notes is an occasional feature showcasing unusual occurrences in the world of the U.S. Postal Service.

Not a Bomb, Just Makeup

A “suspicious package” at a mail processing facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City turned out not to be as dangerous as originally suspected.

While the Postal Service was instrumental in detecting a recent string of hazardous materials sent through the mail, one threat turned out to be nail polish.

After a USPS employee felt sick, rumors started swirling that the worker had been exposed to nerve gas from a leaking package. Authorities swooped in and several employees were taken to the hospital. Turns out there was never any serious danger.

“In this day and age, you just can’t be too careful,” said an officer involved.

Read the full story at CBS 2.

Unfair Game

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has charged a mail sorter with stealing video games from USPS customers.

The employee, James White from Dorchester, allegedly stole GameFly deliveries from the mail. Hopefully White got his gaming fix in; if convicted, he faces a maximum punishment of five years in prison.

See the Justice Department’s release on the indictment.

Surprising Accusations

An unsuspecting mail carrier is accused of stalking in a video that has surfaced on YouTube. The allegation clearly catches him by surprise.

“Stop stalking me,” a woman says as she videos the USPS employee’s truck parked on the side of the street. “Don’t ever stalk me again.”

The employee doesn’t initially realize she’s talking to him. “I don’t even know who you are,” he says after a back and forth in which he denies the allegation.

You can watch the full video here.