CLEARLAKE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a Clearlake man trying to extract gold from computer parts created a toxic cloud that led to the evacuation of nearby homes and sent two officers to the hospital.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat say 35-year-old Edward Jurek told officers he was using an extraction technique he learned online. He was cited for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Clearlake police say two officers found Jurek at a shed condemned last month after police discovered a methamphetamine laboratory allegedly run by his brother.
Officials say when the officers checked on the shed Monday night, they witnessed a chemical reaction that spewed a cloud of toxic vapor. Neighbors were evacuated, and the officers were taken to the hospital to be treated for irritated throats.
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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com
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