Illegal drug lab, hazardous items seized from Alpharetta apartment

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has been reaching out to Alpharetta police all morning to find out what caused an explosion that rocked an apartment building at Jameson Pass, but a sign left on the front door of a unit appears to be the answer.

Residents told Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach they heard the blast coming from the second floor around midnight at the Alara North Apartments.

Alpharetta police left behind a warning on the door that reads in part, "A clandestine laboratory for the manufacture of illegal drugs and/or hazardous materials was seized."

Neighbors are also trying to figure out what caused the loud blast that woke them up early Saturday.

"I heard what sounded like an explosion and something giving way," said neighbor Kate Hill.

So far, police have been tight-lipped about what happened, but tenants are speaking out.

"Kids hang out here late at night. At the time I didn't think anything of I, then I heard it could have been an explosion; possibly a meth explosion," Hill said.

The blast was so powerful it blew the French doors right off the back of the apartment where the explosion happened and blew the railing into the back, leaving pieces of it in the bushes below. Gehlbach said the force of the mysterious explosion at the unit blew a set of mini blinds into a tree.

Hill and Eddie Zingleman said they woke up hours later to police cars, fire trucks and Hazmat crews.

"It was crazy," Hill said.

The couple, who took photos of the scene, watched as police pulled out chemicals, containers and cookware from the apartment. Police also searched a garage that was linked to the unit.

"Pots and pans and pitchers with all kinds of brown and red liquid in it; air filters, Tupperware," Zingleman said.

Alpharetta police confirmed no one was inside at the time of the explosion and no one was hurt.

"It's crazy, you don't expect that to happen here in Alpharetta," said Hill.

Gehlbach is working to find out if police made any arrests. Check back for updates.

WSBTV