AUSTIN, Texas -- Police said the Internal Revenue Service building near Interstate 35 and Ben White Boulevard in South Austin was evacuated for several hours as hazardous materials teams investigated a suspicious package.
- IRS Building evacuated after K-9 unit targets on suspicious package
- 500 staffers sent home as Hazmat crews investigated
- Origin of the package is unknown
- Police say package found to be negative and non-harmful
The all-clear was given just before 10 a.m. and the building was reopened to IRS employees.
The Austin Police Department said the suspicious package at the facility was found to be negative and non-harmful.
The initial call went out just after 6 a.m., when a trained security K-9 unit that patrols the building targeted on a shoebox-sized package in the mail room.
The IRS contracts with a private company for that daily K-9 service.
APD's bomb squad was working with federal investigators at the scene.
The origin of the package is unknown.
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The 500 occupants of the building have been sent home as a result of the investigation.
However, many of the staffers were waiting outside of the building during the entire investigation.
Police said they are bringing in five Capital Metro buses to help the staffers head home.
We'll bring you more updates on this story right here on Spectrum News.
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