Man Arrested In Van Nuys Drug Lab Bust
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — Five Los Angeles police officers were briefly hospitalized Monday for exposure to chemicals at a San Fernando Valley drug lab.
Police received several calls around 10 p.m. Sunday about a man screaming in his apartment in the 14800 block of Sherman Way near Kester Avenue in Van Nuys, the LAPD said.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports when officers arrived on scene, they became ill after they walked inside the unit, where it appeared the suspect had been cooking Dimethyltryptamine, a hallucinogenic more popularly known as DMT.
"It's made from the mimosa root, it's a very popular drug among college kids," said Det. Keith Honere with the LA IMPACT drug task force unit.
An estimated $20,000 worth of DMT - which sells on the street for about $100 per gram - was found in the apartment, according to police.
The officers were transported to a local hospital in good condition and were later released.
The unidentified suspect was arrested and booked on felony manufacturing charges after receiving medical treatment for chemical exposure.
About a dozen surrounding apartments were evacuated as a precaution.