FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Police officers, one wearing a gas mask, took samples
yesterday of evidence seized from an apartment
building in Wahiawa. One officer and an FBI agent
were overcome by toxic fumes during the raid and
had to be sent to the hospital for treatment.

Cop, FBI agent
overcome by fumes
in meth lab raid

The pair was treated and released
after the raid in Wahiawa

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

An FBI agent and a Honolulu police officer were taken to Wahiawa General Hospital yesterday after being overcome by fumes during a search of a suspected crystal methamphetamine lab.

The two officers felt dizzy and experienced headaches after inhaling something toxic in the air, police said. Both the police officer and the FBI agent were treated and released yesterday, according to hospital staff.

Police said they had a search warrant for a seventh-floor unit of the Kemoo by the Lakes apartments at 1830 Wilikina Dr., where they found a pound of crystal methamphetamine, estimated to be worth about $55,000. They also found acetone, which police said is used to "clean" methamphetamines in producing crystal meth.

Police did not say whether anyone was arrested during the search, only that the operation was one of two raids last night. Police said the other raid was in Pearl City and uncovered about 25 pounds of crystal meth and more than 20 firearms.

In Wahiawa, narcotics investigators and other police officials were decontaminated by the Honolulu Fire Department's Hazardous Materials teams after the search.

Fire Department officials said about half a dozen officers needed decontamination.

Police used the front entrance of the apartment building as their staging area, forcing most apartment residents to use the back entrance.

However, seventh-floor residents had to wait until about 8:30 p.m. before being allowed back to their apartments.