Suspected Drug Lab Prompts HazMat Response At Monrovia Home

MONROVIA, CA — A man was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing drugs in Monrovia, police said Wednesday.

A chemical smell triggered a hazardous-materials team to respond to a residence in the 200 block of North Myrtle Avenue about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, KTLA reported. Officers and Monrovia fire department personnel also responded to the call "regarding a large quantity of chemicals being stored there," said Monrovia police Sgt. Kevin Oberon.

"Personnel on scene determined that some of the chemicals were precursors for manufacturing controlled substances," Oberon said.

Authorities discovered chemicals being stored in the home and determined that some of them were used to make drugs — possibly MDMA, ketamine and GHB, Detective Cecilia Cleveland told KTLA.

Police officers requested assistance from a regional task force specializing in narcotic enforcement, Oberon said. Investigators obtained a search warrant and one man was arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, Oberon said.

The name of the suspect was not immediately released.

"There are no evacuation orders and there is no present danger to the community," Oberon said Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Monrovia police detectives at 626-256-8041.

City News Service contributed to this post