Police investigating possible meth lab at Peabody hotel

PEABODY, Mass. (WHDH) -- A hotel in Peabody was evacuated after a chemical scare Sunday night. Police are now investigating it as a possible drug lab.

Scared guests ran out of the Holiday Inn off Route 1 in Peabody Sunday night after chemicals were found in a room filled with smoke.

“They actually just told us that it was a meth lab -- there was three explosions,” said Melissa Mehassy, who was evacuated from the hotel.

Guests heard the explosions around 11 p.m.

“We were watching T.V. when we heard a bang,” said Jillian LeBlanc.

“I thought I heard thunder,” said one man. “We were starting to pack things up and get ready to move on out and she heard a guy out in the hall and opened it up. Turned out it was one of the firemen -- fire marshal kind of guy -- going around, telling everybody there had been a chemical spill and they needed to evacuate the building.”

All 190 guests, including 25 children, were evacuated, but allowed back inside early Monday morning. No injuries were reported.

“Security officers reported that they saw a large amount of chemicals in the room, which is highly unusual, as well as smoke,” said one official.

Police said inside the room they found dangerous chemicals. Officials responded to investigate whether someone in the room was trying to make meth.

“They also said the person that had rented the room has left the room and they did not know where he was,” said one official.

Officials continue to investigate the situation. Police have a suspect in mind, but no arrests have been made. Police said the person staying in that room is known to them.

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