'Suspicious Smell' Vexed Authorities; Wisconsin House Evacuated

WAUKESHA, WI — Authorities in Waukesha are trying to figure out a suspicious smell that resulted in everybody in the Wisconsin House seeking shelter in a city bus Monday afternoon.

According to the Waukesha Police Department, detectives were sent to the Wisconsin House at 477 W. Main St. to investigate a suspicious smell from the building. Once at the building they located the smell coming from a room on the third floor. Due to the smell, officers determined it would be best to evacuate everyone from the building for their safety.

The Waukesha Fire Department and the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene. Waukesha Metro Bus responded to provide shelter for the people that were temporarily displaced as investigators worked inside the building.

Authorities closed W. Main Street from Maple Avenue to Wisconsin Ave. during the investigation.

Later Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation’s Clandestine Laboratory Response Team said there was no ongoing risk to the safety the people who live in the Wisconsin House.

According to a FOX 6 report, authorities do not yet know what the cause of the smell was. "What we actually found, we're going to have send to a lab for further testing," said Jerry Habanek, of the Waukesha Police said in the report. "No one knows exactly what it was, but we know that whatever was located was removed from the scene, and there's no further threat to the residents."