HANOVER — Law enforcement officers spent about nine hours investigating a suspicious vehicle outside Dartmouth’s Class of 1953 Commons Dining Hall on Sunday after a person was seen pouring potentially hazardous chemicals into the car.
Hanover Police and Fire departments responded to a report of a woman spraying and pouring “a significant amount of chemicals” into a black sedan with Wisconsin plates parked near 6 Mass Row in Hanover around 11 a.m. Sunday and walking away from the scene, Hanover Police Capt. Mike Schibuola said Monday.
When officers arrived on site they found the vehicle, which had a “strong odor of chemicals” some of which had leaked out of the car and onto the sidewalk.
The car also had various handwritten signs taped on the windows that Schibuola described as “random,” “nonsensical” and “bizarre.”
Hanover police quickly found the woman, who owns the vehicle, on campus. Schibuola said she appeared to be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
The woman is “connected to the college in some manner,” but police are still confirming whether she is a temporary or permanent employee, he said. She is not a student.
Police secured the area and called in the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad and Midwestern New Hampshire Hazardous Materials Response Team.
“Various chemicals were observed in the vehicle and the potential of them mixing together and causing physical harm if breathed in and environmental contamination was significant at the time,” Schibuola said.
Law enforcement advised people to avoid the area throughout Sunday afternoon. The bomb squad ultimately deemed the scene safe around 8 p.m.
Hanover Police are investigating the incident as a case of disorderly conduct.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact the department at 603-643-2222.