City Hall Closed due to Suspicious Package Yesterday

Toccoa City Hall was shut down yesterday morning as local law enforcement and other agencies secured a suspicious package.

Police Chief Tim Jarrell told WNEG News what was in the package.

“A city employee went to the night drop box to retrieve payments that had been made to the city for utilities,” said Jarrell. “While they were running it through the envelope opening machine, one of the envelopes contained a yellow, powdery substance. At that point, city staff contacted the police department and in turn, we contacted the GBI and asked for assistance. They gave us a contact with the FBI and we worked with the Cornelia Fire Department to get the Oconee County (South Carolina) Fire Department to respond and assist.”

Jarrell said the unknown substance is being sent to Atlanta for testing but all indications are that it’s harmless.

City Hall was reopened by 2:30 yesterday afternoon.