WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – West Palm Beach police arrested a man Monday who they said broke into City Hall last weekend, leaving behind a bag of cocaine and clothing in the commission chambers.
According to jail records, Jake Foster Machado, 34, of Lake Worth Beach, is facing one count each of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure and possession of a controlled substance.
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Investigators said just after 8 a.m. on July 22, a city employee preparing the commission chambers for a scheduled meeting discovered men’s clothing and a plastic bag with white powder on the floor.
Authorities said police and fire departments were called and part of the building was evacuated as a precaution as hazardous materials technicians from the West Palm Beach Fire Department tested the powder.
According to detectives, the substance was determined to be cocaine, and crime scene investigators collected the evidence, which included a men’s T-shirt and a pair of Nike sneakers.
Police said Machado broke into the building sometime after 5 a.m. on July 20, took off his shirt and shoes, and crawled around the floor as he made his way toward the chambers. He moved erratically around the building for about 30 minutes before leaving, authorities said.
According to investigators, Machado tried to force other doors open to get back inside but was unsuccessful and left, heading west on Banyan Boulevard.
An arrest warrant was obtained, and Machado was located and taken into custody on Monday at a drug rehabilitation center in western Palm Beach County.
Authorities said the West Palm Beach Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Special Investigations Division assisted the City Hall Unit in the investigation.
As of Tuesday, Machado remains at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Center, where his bond has not yet been determined.
Police did not disclose whether Machado stole anything during the burglary attempt.