PARIS, Ky. — Bourbon County Judge-Executive Donnie Foley said he has been notified of an investigation focusing on Sheriff John Ransdell, who left envelopes filled with crushed aspirin on courthouse workers' desks earlier this month.

        Mr. Foley said he did not know which law enforcement agency was handling the investigation but was notified of it by County Attorney John J. Brady. Mr. Brady declined to comment.

        Mr. Ransdell would not answer questions regarding the investigation.

        Kentucky State Police are aware of the situation, said spokeswoman Lt. Lisa Rudzinski, but no criminal investigation had been opened as of Friday.

        New details have emerged regarding the morning of Oct. 12, when Mr. Foley's secretary, Lucia Sparks, found the envelope on her desk before calling Paris police.

        Mr. Foley said Mr. Ransdell didn't tell him about the envelope until they began chatting in a conference room adjacent to the judge-executive's office. Mr. Ransdell said he left the envelope for Ms. Sparks to “see what kind of reaction she would have,” Mr. Foley recalled.

        Minutes later, a police officer arrived.

        After speaking with the officer, Mr. Ransdell then approached Ms. Sparks and said, “You passed the test, Lucy. You're the only one that did it right,” Mr. Foley recalled.

        But Ms. Sparks said she never heard the sheriff make those remarks: “I was angry and shook my finger at him. I said, "Johnny Ransdell, you better not do that again. That's not funny.' He said, "You can't prove it was me.'”

        The envelope was pitched into the trash, and no charges were filed.

        Four days later, Mr. Ransdell explained in a memo that the envelopes were a training exercise to test employees' readiness with suspicious packages.

        The incident has captured widespread media attention, as federal officials vowed to have anthrax hoaxes prosecuted.

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