MIDDLEVILLE, Mich. — Emergency personnel have established a perimeter around a Middleville bank Friday evening after an unknown substance was found inside the bank.
UPDATE 12:10AM: Police say the area is blocked off only as a precaution. No one is in danger at this time.
Firefighters told FOX 17 NEWS that at 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Middleville Fire Department, Michigan State Police, Thornapple Township rescue squad and Middleville rescue squad responded to the Hastings City Bank at 435 Arlington St. in downtown Middleville. A substance was found inside the bank and they didn’t know what it was. A perimeter was established around the bank, tape was set up and the roadway was closed at the intersection of Arlington and Edwards.
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf said deputies were investigating an unknown substance set through a pneumatic tube at the bank. Four employees were quarantined inside the bank for safety reasons until they are cleared by a hazardous materials team from Allegan County.
Firefighters told FOX 17 NEWS they were waiting for the proper authorities to come to the scene — a group from Battle Creek — and take care of a problem. They told FOX 17 NEWS that it was not a threat to the community, however.
Emergency workers told FOX 17 NEWS that at about 11 p.m. Friday they expect workers in hazardous materials suits to go inside the bank to deal with the substance.
Neighbors told FOX 17 NEWS that rescue workers had been at the bank since about 5:30 p.m. Friday.
FOX 17 NEWS has a crew on the scene and will provide updates as they become available.
