Police: Man Found With Drugs, Prompts Hazmat Response In Chelsea
CHELSEA (CBS) -- A man was arrested after police, fire, State Police bomb squad, and hazmat crews responded near a local hotel early Wednesday morning to reports that he had crystal meth in his car.
Thiago Araujo, 31, of South Boston, was arrested and charged with possession of a class B substance and operating under the influence of drugs. Police said he could face more charges.
Police responded to the Wyndham Hotel around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to reports of an unresponsive man behind the wheel of a car in the parking lot. They said that, when he was approached, Araujo became erratic and had to be subdued. Police said he was taken to Whidden Memorial Hospital, where he is being held.
Police said they were prompted to search Araujo's car after he made comments about having crystal meth in it.
Fire and police surrounded the hotel and blocked off part of the lot with crime tape. Hazmat professionals in white suits searched the car, pulling out a cardboard box and tarps. They found no hazardous materials, but did find over an ounce of crystal meth.
Police said there was no evidence he was cooking the meth in the car, but that they were trying to determine if there was another hazardous material situation in a location where the meth was cooked.
"We're trying to speak to him to see if there's another hazardous material location someplace else in Chelsea or another remote location, and that's where the investigation stands right now," said Chelsea Police Captain Keith Houghton. "It may be not even anywhere near Chelsea or the state, they're just really concerned about a second location."
Police said the hotel was not evacuated, because the hazmat response was out of an abundance of caution.
Araujo is expected to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court later Wednesday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports
