LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
A heavy police presence was seen outside a vacant building in downtown Louisville Friday morning, as authorities worked to remove five people who they say were trespassing.
The Louisville Metro Department of Codes and Regulations said the city's Homeless Services Division provided referrals to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Addiction Recovery Centers for the five people.
Richard Price, the director of LMDCR, addressed some of the concerns officials had and why they vacated the building.
"Over the last few weeks we've had a lot of copper theft," Price said. "And not just copper, wiring for internet access. As you can see the internet is interconnect with other existing business. So AT&T has a problem keeping that internet service for some of these buildings. It's just been a big problem of keeping the building safe."
WHAS11 crews witnessed multiple city agencies working outside the Kentucky Home Life Building around 10 a.m. before entering the building around 30 minutes later, with some wearing protective gas masks.
The 20-story building is located on 5th and Jefferson Streets in downtown Louisville.
A spokesperson for the Louisville Department of Codes and Regulation said it ordered an "emergency securing of the exterior" of the building in coordination with Louisville Metro Police and Louisville Fire.
"Multiple individuals were found to be trespassing inside the property," they said.
Price said there is no immediate danger in the area right now, but that there is a fire hazard.
The scene caught the eyes of many people during the noon lunch rush. Local attorney Scott Karem has worked in the area for the past 30 years and said he's seen this building sit empty for the last few years.
"I saw that essentially nobody was running the building and I didn't want to lose my... files," Karem said. "It's sad... but it was a well known building particularly within the legal community and we're all sad to see it kind of deteriorate."
The department said Friday afternoon that authorities are still working to secure the exterior of the building.
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