A Pine County man is expected to be charged Monday in connection with the mailing last month of six envelopes of white powder to the county's Government Center — an incident that prompted a shutdown of the center on Nov. 19.

The 45-year-old man was arrested Thursday and is suspected also of having planted devices made to look like explosives "at various locations to cause fear," a Pine County Sheriff's Office news release said.

The suspect was being held Sunday at the Pine County jail on terroristic threats and other charges.

The release gave no motive for the alleged offenses.

On Nov. 19, about 200 workers, visitors and jurors were evacuated from the Government Center after a worker in the District Court office opened an envelope containing a powdery substance that later was determined to also contain a bacterial agent.

The FBI assisted in the investigation, which included a search of the suspect's rural home on Thursday, the sheriff's office said.

Anthony Lonetree