West Palm Beach City Hall was evacuated on Monday morning because cocaine was found in the city commission chamber, according to the fire department.
The Battalion Chief of the West Palm Beach Fire Department (WPBFD) said that at 8:30 a.m., they got a call about a suspicious white powder inside City Hall, which is located at 401 Clematis Street. Fire department crews quickly responded to the scene.
After looking at security camera footage, they saw that someone had broken into the building and left the white powder in the city commission chamber. Because the substance was unknown and potentially dangerous, a hazardous materials team was called to the scene to test it. The team identified the powder as cocaine.
The police department has now taken over the investigation to find out who is responsible for breaking in and leaving the cocaine. They are reviewing the surveillance video for more clues and evidence.
Despite this incident, the Battalion Chief said that Monday night’s city commission meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m., is not expected to be affected. City officials are working to ensure that the meeting can proceed as planned, and they have taken steps to secure the building and ensure the safety of everyone involved.