Monday, August 31, 2015

Drunk man mixing chlorine and other chemicals prompts evacuations in Concord, CA


By Lisa P. White lwhite@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: AUGUST 31, 2015


CONCORD, CA-- Robin Lane residents had to leave their homes for several hours Saturday while authorities cleaned up a potentially dangerous chemical brew, police said.

Police responded to an apartment building in the 1800 block of Robin Lane shortly before 6 p.m. after a woman reported that her husband was intoxicated and mixing chemicals to make a "flash bomb," Concord police Cpl. Christopher Blakely said.

When officers arrived, they encountered a strong chemical smell in the apartment where the husband was mixing chlorine with unidentified substances, Blakely said. Police removed the woman and two children from the apartment and evacuated the rest of the building. Police also evacuated four other apartment buildings on Robin Lane and closed the street between Meadow and Virginia lanes while the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Team and the Walnut Creek Bomb Squad handled the chemical mix.

Officers did not find any explosive devices in the apartment. Police arrested a 37-year-old man on suspicion of child endangerment, but he may face additional charges as the investigation continues, according to Blakely. Police did not release the man's name Saturday.