California Highway Patrol officers are investigating the unexplained discharge of pepper spray inside a DMV office Wednesday afternoon.
With the help of surveillance footage, officials now believe a 50- to 60-year-old woman wearing a light blue jean jacket, blue jeans and glasses, sprayed a wall inside the Department of Motor Vehicle office in Newhall, prompting staff an evacuation of the building around 4:45 p.m.
Medical personnel transported one woman to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as a precaution, the rest were treated on scene and then declined hospital transport. (Pepper spray is an aerosol spray that contains cayenne pepper oils that can irritate eyes and breathing passages and, because of that, used as a disabling weapon.)
A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department noted at 4:55 p.m., there were about 20 affected people were outside of the public office.
Officers did not mention a motive for the release of the spray in the report, and are still trying to determine the identity of the woman they believe is responsible.
However, anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Officer Josh Greengard or Officer Allen at the Newhall CHP officer (661)-294-5540.
661-287-5527
Perry Smith contributed to this report.
