Evanston police investigate unidentified substance; precautionary testing finds no hazards

The Evanston Police Department’s Detective Bureau is investigating an unidentified substance that police had previously inventoried. At the bureau’s request, the Evanston Fire Department conducted precautionary testing at the Police Department Wednesday evening to assess whether the substance presented a hazard. The Fire Department reported no adverse readings during testing. There is no known threat to the community at this time, according to a news release from the Evanston Police Department. Firefighters wore hazardous materials protective equipment as a precaution because the substance had not been identified. Access to the area of Elmwood Avenue and Lake Street, along with the immediate area surrounding the Police Department, was temporarily restricted during testing. The streets have reopened. The initial testing assessed potential hazards but did not identify the substance. The Detective Bureau is coordinating further laboratory testing. Because the investigation is ong