Columbus firefighters determined a light, powdery substance found on donated money in a cash donation box at Volunteers in Medicine Wednesday afternoon was methamphetamine.
The department’s hazardous materials truck was sent to the facility at 940 N. Marr Road at about 2:30 p.m. when volunteers emptying the donation box saw the powder on cash that had been donated, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman. Columbus Police officers were also sent to the incident.
Firefighters wearing hazardous material suits collected a sample of the powder and determined what it was through testing at the scene, Wilson said. The methamphetamine was found folded inside a $1 bill, and was visible on cash in the box, he said.
The methamphetamine was confiscated by the police department and the money cleaned before being returned to the three staff members at the facility when the incident occurred.
