Powder that exploded inside Arapahoe County home identified as ‘CS Powder’

DENVER (KDVR) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the white powdery substance found in a container on an Arapahoe County family’s doorstep on Tuesday night.

The powder “exploded” out of the container when it was opened, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, leading to three occupants of an apartment in the 1300 block of Willow Street getting transported to a hospital for any potential reactions to the powder.

On Thursday, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said the FBI identified the powder as “CS Powder” in pepper balls. Pepper balls are projectiles containing various riot control chemicals. In this case, that chemical is chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile.

According to the National Library of Medicine’s Pub Chem compound summary , the chemical is “the defining component of a tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent.”

None of the residents of the home had serious reactions to the powder, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Tests onsite on Tuesday were inconclusive, but said it had come back negative for hazardous materials.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said with the identification of the powder, the case has been closed.

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