DUARTE — A strange powder that prompted the evacuation of a Wal-Mart store Thursday was found to be harmless, authorities said.
Officials ordered the evacuation of Wal-Mart, 1600 Mountain Ave., about 2:45 p.m. after an “unknown powder” was discovered on cash that had been dropped off by an armored transport company, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Mariscola said.
After cordoning off the area, a hazardous materials team was called in to inspect the power.
While it was unclear what the powder was, “Hazmat teams were unable to detect any source of chemical, biological, radiological and or nuclear-based substance,” Mariscola said.
The store then resumed normal operation.