Macomb County Sheriff's Office Investigates Suspected Drug Lab Explosion

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office is investigating a Sunday apartment explosion that injured multiple individuals in Harrison Township.

Although initially given a false story, investigators said Monday they determined the apartment was being used as a drug lab.

"Through witness statements, interviews and a review of evidence at the scene, it was determined that the residents of the apartment were using a chemical process to extract THC from marijuana plants in the kitchen of the residence,'" according to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

"A propane torch was introduced into the process and this ignited the flammable gasses causing the explosion."

The explosion occurred at 3:24 p.m. Sunday at the 38000 block of Metro Villa Drive in the Beechwood Apartment Complex off North Pointe Parkway north of Metropolitan Parkway.

The 19-year-old resident told responding deputies the stove in his apartment exploded and he was the only one inside the unit at the time. He suffered extensive burns, the Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators soon deemed his account to be false and found out several other people--a total of five people, four of whom fled before deputies arrived--were inside the apartment at the time.

Deputies were able to track down the other four individuals through witness interviews at the scene and at Detroit Receiving Hospital. One of them also was found upon returning to the apartment complex, Sheriff's Lt. John Michalke said.

The 19-year-old resident, a 22-year-old Clinton Township man and a 21-year-old Harrison Township woman who lived at the apartment were treated at Detroit Receiving Hospital for their non-life-threatening injuries. An 18-year-old Harrison Township man sustained minor injuries, but refused medical treatment, and a 22-year-old Harrison Township man was uninjured in the blast.

Police said the Drug Enforcement Agency was called to check for evidence of lingering chemicals and cleared the scene after evidence of the suspected drug lab was uncovered.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the incident. No arrest warrants had been issued for any of the individuals by Monday afternoon.

Check back with Patch for updates.