Chemicals found in Torresdale, homes evacuated

TORRESDALE (WPVI) -- Homes in Philadelphia had to be evacuated after police say they found a dangerous stock of chemicals inside a Torresdale apartment. They believe it was part of a drug lab.

"I'm a mother and just seeing that scares me," neighbor Amanda Dryden said.

Police were called to the 3500 block of Grant Avenue around 7:45 a.m. Monday.

A team of crime scene investigators removed what appeared to be the components for a synthetic drug lab.

Throughout the day, police confiscated potentially dangerous chemicals including acetone, methanol, and ammonia.

Investigators also found stacks of books and literature with instructions for making drugs like crystal meth, ecstasy, and synthetic marijuana.

The section of Grant Avenue was evacuated for a short time as a precaution, but the area was deemed safe as soon as the most unstable items were safely removed.

Police have not yet released the name of the tenant who lives at the home, but say he is already in a Delaware prison on drug charges not linked to this case.

To be clear, authorities have not yet confirmed that they found any actual drugs in the apartment, just the components.

Neighbors say this is a truly disturbing development in an otherwise quiet community in the Northeast.

"I didn't see anything. I didn't notice anything. It is very concerning around here. We don't usual have anything like that around here. It's a shock," neighbor Joe Malloy said.