Police seize guns from the house that prompted Herndon evacuations

Captain of Herndon Police Department, Steve PihonakPhoto byWatchful Eye / HPD

Residents around the 200 block of Herndon Station Square were cleared to return to their homes last night after an hours-long evacuation prompted by what police found in the home of Steven Timothy Kyle, a 44-year-old Herndon man wanted in Pennsylvania.

Authorities concluded that the items-- which still haven’t been named--pose no threat to the community Herndon Police Captain Steve Pihonak said at a press conference last night.

Initially, Herndon Police described what they found in Kyle’s townhouse as “chemical substances and other evidence that raised alarm.”

Hours later, at an evening press conference, Pihonak said authorities were still working the scene. “It’s serious enough that that’s why we’ve closed the area all around,” he added.

But later that night, when residents were cleared to return to their homes, he said Fairfax Police, the ATF, and FBI “deemed that the things found in the house were safe.”

Pressed on the issue, Pihonak said, “there was a lot of chemicals and other things found in the house.” Chemicals were found in “different containers throughout the house.”

“When you walk into a scene like that and you have some chemicals in different containers—and it was not in like the typical homeowner’s garage where they would have your paint over here and this and that. It was definitely suspicious in nature to how he had these in the home,” the captain added.

“But they [“the experts”] have determined that none of those chemicals are illegal to possess and they pose no danger at this point.”

The experts as that worked the scene included Fairfax Police Bomb Squad, Fairfax Fire Department, ATF Washington, and the FBI, according to Herndon PD.

Pihonak said Kyle was still being held in Fairfax Adult Detention Center for his charges in Pennsylvania but no additional charges have been filed.

“That could change as our search of the home continues,” he added.

Detectives were supposed to work overnight collecting evidence for Kyle’s case in Pennsylvania, Pihonak said. He added that they were “removing firearms and other items related to his crimes” from the home.

This is developing story. Subscribe to ensure you get the updates!

Follow the Watchful Eye on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram to keep up with what's happening in Virginia!