Elaborate Drug Lab Discovered In Monrovia Home, Man Arrested

MONROVIA (CBSLA) – A man been arrested after authorities discovered an elaborate drug laboratory in his Monrovia home Tuesday.

The lab was discovered at a home in the 200 block of North Myrtle Avenue, near Foothill Boulevard, after Los Angeles County Fire Department crews were called to the home on a tip that a man was storing large quantities of chemicals inside. Firefighters then called for a hazmat team.

A combination of chemicals and natural products that were being used to make drugs were found in the house, Los Angeles police Det. Cecilia Cleveland -- who works for the California Department of Justice's Impact Task Force -- told reporters Wednesday. The drug lab itself was in the garage, Cleveland said.

"Some of those items were consistent with MDMA, GHB, Ketamine, DMT, which are all hallucinogenic type drugs," Cleveland said.

A neighbor told CBS2 he never saw people coming in or out of the home and that there were often several expensive cars parked outside.

The lab was described by Cleveland as "homemade" and was created by a suspect who was "self-taught."

"Some of these are products or chemicals or solvents that are labeled for manufacturers, and some of these are homemade, so to speak," Cleveland said.

A man who lived at the home has been arrested and charged with manufacturing of a controlled substance. His name was not released. The home has been red-tagged.

State investigators combed through the home Wednesday morning, taking inventory of the stash of chemicals found inside. Monrovia police said the case has been turned over to the DOJ.