CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WVEC) - What was originally called a hazmat situation at a hotel in Chesapeake has since been cleared.
The Chesapeake Police Department determined that there was no threat to residents around 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
It happened at the Aloft Chesapeake on Crossways Blvd. in the Greenbrier section of the city.
“Management said, 'Oh, it’s just someone having an episode of some sort," said hotel guest Jason Hood. "So about two hours later they came back and it had to do with the same situation," said Hood.
Hours later, he received a call. “The police were coming and we had to evacuate the third floor," said Hood.
According to a department spokesperson, the received a call at around 4:20 p.m. after Chesapeake Police reported a possible exposure to an unknown hazardous substance. They did not elaborate on the circumstances.
Guests and staff on the third floor of the hotel were evacuated into the lobby of the hotel. Hazmat crews worked in full protective equipment while they determined what the substance was, according to the spokesperson.
Chesapeake Fire Department also requested assistance from both the Portsmouth Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
Hotel Regional Vice President Tony Parrow said the hotel immediately followed standard protocol to make sure guests felt safe.
"With everything and everybody here, including you guys and fire and police, you know lots of questions and stuff... so we try to set everyone at ease the best we can," said Parrow.
Management kept the third-floor guests in the lobby until the investigation was completed. Police were ultimately able to determine that suspicious substance in the room was non-hazardous.