‘No threat to community:’ Families allowed to return home after Herndon police find chemical substances during search

UPDATE 9/6, 10 p.m. — Families were able to return home after police announced the chemicals were not dangerous or illegal. It was unclear whether Kyle would face additional charges.

HERNDON, Va. ( DC News Now ) — Multiple people were evacuated from their homes on Friday after the Town of Herndon Police Department (HPD) discovered chemical substances during a search.

HPD executed a search warrant on behalf of a police department in Pennsylvania at about 11:30 a.m. in the 200 block of Herndon Station Square. 44-year-old Steven Timothy Kyle of Herndon was wanted in Pennsylvania for criminal mischief, stalking and three counts of harassment.

He was arrested without incident and taken to the Fairfax County Detention Center.

While searching his home, detectives said they found “chemical substances and other evidence that raised alarm.”

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Bomb Squad and crews from ATF Washington were at the scene in the afternoon to help recover evidence. As a precaution, about 20 neighboring homes were evacuated and the W&OD Trail was closed between Grace and Center.

In an update just before 2:30 p.m., HPD said Grace Street would be closed between Haley and Park. Hazmat crews were also at the scene.

Fortnightly Street was also closed at Grace Street and Herndon Station Square.

Herndon police Cpt. Steve Pihonak said as of Friday evening, officers are still searching through the home.

“It’s going to be a meticulous, slow process to safely clear this out,” he said.

Pihonak said police have not been able to determine what types of chemicals were found inside the home.

Residents were able to return to their homes after police deemed the chemicals were not dangerous or illegal.

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