Chemical in Ventilation Clears Pasadena Courthouse
A few hundred people were evacuated from the Pasadena Courthouse Friday morning after a chemical was circulated through the six-story building’s ventilation.
“We’re 99% sure it was pepper spray sprayed into air handling system,” said Pasadena Fire Battalion Chief Joe Nestor.
Shortly after 8:30 a.m., two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on the sixth floor complained of eye, nose and throat irritations, Nestor said.
Forty-five firefighters from Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank responded to the call at 300 E. Walnut St.
“We wanted to make sure it wasn’t something bad, such as mustard gas. We found nothing,” Nestor said. “Pepper spray dissipates in 10 to 15 minutes, and everything is consistent with its release here.”
After about 90 minutes, people were allowed to return. Nestor said there have been similar incidents before at the Pasadena courthouse.
The incident was under investigation.
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