A man was injured Sunday afternoon in an apparent meth lab explosion that caused structural damage to an apartment, including pushing a wall inches from the building's foundation, authorities said.
Tulsa firefighters were called to an explosion at 3:25 p.m. at Somerset Park at Union Apartments, 9416 E. 65th St. They found a blown out door and window, and a piece of wicker furniture that was thrown from the apartment in the blast.
Firefighters also found evidence of a one-pot meth lab and called in Tulsa Police to assist in the investigation, said Stan May, public information officer with the Tulsa Fire Department.
Fire officials estimated the damage to the downstairs corner apartment at $20,000 and said one of the apartment's walls was moved about 5 inches from its foundation.
A man and a woman who were inside reportedly fled the scene before authorities arrived, but the man was later admitted to St. Francis Hospital and treated for burns to his arms and hands, said Sgt. Cathy Reynolds with the Tulsa Police Department. He was believed to be the only person injured in the blast. His condition was not immediately available.
Police said a third man in the apartment at the time of the explosion -- Timothy Ryan Davis, 34 -- remained at the scene. He was handcuffed, questioned and later booked into the Tulsa Jail on a complaint of manufacturing a controlled substance.
The woman was still being sought Sunday evening.
Several meth-making components were found inside the apartment, including lithium batteries, sulfuric acid, acetone and drain cleaner, according to Davis' arrest report.
Davis remained at the Tulsa Jail without bond Sunday night. Felony drug charges were filed against Davis in Pontotoc County in 1997 and Tulsa County in 2004. Both cases were dismissed.
Copyright 2012 - Tulsa World, Okla.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
