An “unknown substance” investigation closed several areas in Ahwatukee on Tuesday

AHWATUKEE, AZ – The Phoenix Fire Department has given the all clear after a suspicious substance was found on several political signs in the Ahwatukee area Tuesday morning.

Hazmat crews were initially called to investigate a substance found at a Dignity Health location near 44th Street and Chandler Boulevard.

Watch video of the scene in the video player below:

Emergency crews closed Chandler Boulevard in both directions from 44th to 36th streets. The Phoenix Fire Department said the area was closed out of an abundance of caution.

A nearby retail area near 50th Street and Ray Road was also blocked off around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday by a large police presence that appeared to be related to the Dignity Health scene.

HAZMAT crews appeared to inspect a substance on political signs in several locations. As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Phoenix police said the substance was deemed non-hazardous.

Tempe police say the man is a suspect “in connection with three separate shootings against the Democratic National Committee in Tempe that began in September.”

Tempe police will hold a news conference Wednesday to talk more about the man's arrest.

Officials say the suspect was arrested for “hanging suspicious bags of white powder from several razor-lined political signs he posted in Ahwatukee.”