I-TEAM: Confidential documents found on street

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Two state workers have been suspended with pay after copies of confidential documents were found on a downtown street and in a dumpster behind a state office building.  The documents were connected to people who have applied for public assistance.

Copies of dozens of social security cards, bank records, birth certificates and other confidential documents were discovered by a passerby on a downtown Baton Rouge street and delivered to the 9NEWS I-TEAM late Sunday.  

The I-TEAM contacted state officials who launched an investigation into the case. 

State investigators said the bag delivered to the I-TEAM contained documents related to nearly 70 different people.

The paperwork was connected to people who had applied for food stamps and other forms of public assistance.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services said an office manager and an area supervisor at the department's North Boulevard Office were suspended with pay while the investigation continues. They did not release the names of the workers.

The state has set up a hotline for people who want to see if their information was discarded and later recovered. That number is 1-888-LA-HELP-U or 1-888-524-3578.

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