UPDATE: Police investigate suspected meth lab at Providence Hilton
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence Hilton Garden Inn was evacuated Tuesday evening after a security guard told hotel management to call police on four men, believed to be making meth in their hotel room.
Authorities said there were toxic fumes oozing from under the door of room 323 into the hallway, similar to that of a sauna. A security guard went to the room to investigate and had the door slammed in his face by the four men.
"Hazmat here, there must be about six ladder trucks, a lot of police cars," said witness Ken Sabagh as he stood next to the active scene.
According to Public Safety Commissioner, Steven Pare, officers, and the DEA are now investigating a possible meth lab on the 3rd floor.
When fire officials first went inside the room, toxic gas sensors went off and they found a chemical suit on the ground. Windows were broken for ventilation, and eventually the entire hotel was evacuated.
"People want to make money, and in desperate times people do desperate things," said Sabagh, "I saw a fireman go to the top of the ladder, break the window, he went in."
Police say that when they arrived, the four men inside the room were gone and that they will continue to look through hotel surveillance in the hopes of tracking them down.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016
