West Palm Beach City Hall evacuated after cocaine found, fire official says

West Palm Beach City Hall was evacuated on Monday morning after cocaine was found inside the building, authorities said.

Mike Jachles, the public information officer for the West Palm Beach Police Department, said an emergency call came in at approximately 8:30 a.m.

The entire building, located at 401 Clematis St., was evacuated after a white powdery substance was found in commission chambers.

"We receive calls like this on a very regular basis," Battalion Chief Gregory Gordon with West Palm Fire Department told WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman. "They can range from anything to completely innocent to an attempted type of terrorist act. When we receive a call like this in a credible environment, particularly in the political climate we have right now with the attempted assassination of [former] President Trump, we take these things very seriously, and we proceed accordingly until we make a determination that it’s not serious."

WPTV

The West Palm Beach Fire Department confirmed to Hoffman that the substance was cocaine.

"It was interesting," Gordon told Hoffman. "That's not something we have come across. I've never come across that at all."

WPTV

Hoffman said there were multiple first responders — including a hazmat truck, police and fire units, and at least one ambulance — around City Hall on Monday morning.

All employees have since returned to the building.

A West Palm Beach City Council meeting on Monday evening at City Hall will continue as scheduled, Hoffman learned.