TOPEKA — TOPEKA — I-70 west of Topeka has been reopened. All lanes of the interstate between Auburn Road west of Topeka and K-99 in Wabaunsee County were closed Monday afternoon and evening because of a hazardous chemicals threat. WIBW Channel 13 reported an Arkansas man was arrested in connection with the incident. The TV station said that someone called Junction City police and told them that hazardous materials had been deliberately left in a Junction City motel room. Military and special civilian teams inspected and cleaned the room. Authorities have refused to say what the materials were. State troopers pulled over a pickup covered with anti-government stickers on I-70 after the report. Hazmat and bomb disposal teams went over the truck. The man, Christopher Spence, 50, Conway, Ark., was being held by Junction City police.
Monday, July 25, 4 p.m.; updated Tuesday, July 26, 7 a.m.
