Crime & Safety
Hazmat Investigates Dry Powder on Government Vehicle
The Howard County police and fire department investigated a suspicious substance on a federal government vehicle near an Army recruiting station in Columbia on Monday.
Howard County police and fire officials confirmed that they investigated a dry powder Monday found on a federal government vehicle near an Army recruiting station in Columbia.
The special operations hazmat team responded to a report at 9:30 a.m. of a potential hazardous substance on a vehicle near 5550 Sterrett Place in Columbia's Town Center, according to Jackie Cutler, a spokesperson for the Howard County fire department.
That is right next to Army, Air Force, Navy and U.S. Marine Corps recruiting stations, located at 5565 Sterrett Place.
Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Preliminary tests showed it to be a dry powder, likely from a fire extinguisher, according to Bryce Buell, a spokesperson for the Howard County police department.
Buell reported no other vehicles were involved in the incident and there was no property damage on the Pontiac G6.
Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"The top, the sides, the back trunk and the back windshield were definitely covered," said Dan Peoples, a witness at the scene. "Somebody unloaded a pretty big something on it."
Peoples said he observed safety officials spraying down the car with a fire hose.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
