Police investigate cocaine found in University building

Fontaine Research Park employee discovers suspicious substance, hazmat team identifies as cocaine

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Albemarle County Police yesterday evening investigated a "suspicious white powdery substance" found in a plastic bag inside Sheridan G. Snyder Translational Research Building at the University's Fontaine Research Park, Albemarle County Police Sgt. Darrell Byers said.

A staff member called 911 after finding the substance, which police later identified as cocaine, Byers said.

"There was nothing there with the material being any hazard to people," Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner said.

Werner said the employee found the cocaine in a second-floor women's restroom, and no injuries occurred.

Byers said the police took custody of the substance, adding that identifying the cocaine's owner would be difficult, but they could possibly find fingerprints on the bag. "We have no idea who the owner is," Byers said. "We're going to try to process it [but] it will be difficult to see who took whatever into a restroom."

Police cleared the building by 10:15 a.m.

-compiled by Krista Pedersen