Explosion at Hotel Leads to Drug-Related Arrest
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From Staff and Wire Reports
A Costa Mesa man was arrested late Thursday after an explosion in what police believe was a drug lab he was operating out of a motel room.
Joseph Francis Piquette, 41, was held on suspicion of possession of chemical materials with intent to manufacture drugs after the explosion at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn on Harbor Boulevard.
There were no injuries, but Piquette and three officers had to be decontaminated at the scene and were taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Bail was set at $50,000. Piquette is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
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