A quiet Port Orange street turned into a hazmat scene Sunday morning when crews in full protective gear uncovered a hidden chemical lab inside a house, leaving one man in handcuffs and a whole lot of worried first responders.
Police say it started as a disturbance call at 6292 Palm Vista St., where officers encountered 30-year-old Owen Kelly. During the investigation, they found what they described as a concealed laboratory tucked inside the home, complete with hazardous chemicals that raised immediate red flags for toxic residues and possible explosive risks.
The find triggered a full-court press by multiple agencies. Along with Port Orange officers, the Port Orange Special Investigations Unit, the Volusia County Sheriff’s East Side Narcotics Task Force, Volusia County Fire/HazMat, and the Drug Enforcement Administration all responded to secure and remove volatile substances, according to WKMG/ClickOrlando.
Kelly was arrested at the scene and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on a charge of illegal touching or striking. As of Monday, authorities had not announced any additional charges tied directly to the lab itself.
Scene Details And How To Reach Police
Local parcel records list 6292 Palm Vista St. under the name Robert J. Kelly, according to FloridaParcels. Police have not publicly clarified the relationship, if any, between that name and the man taken into custody.
The Port Orange Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident or the hidden lab to call 386-506-5800. Contact details for the department are also posted on the city’s police page.
Why Homegrown Labs Put Hazmat Crews On Edge
Clandestine drug or chemical labs are not just chemistry projects gone wrong. They can trigger explosive reactions, release toxic gases, and leave behind stubborn surface contamination that lingers long after the operation is shut down. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Laboratory Cleanup recommend specialized testing and professional remediation because residues and airborne particles can remain hazardous, EPA officials note.
Public health research has found that contamination from illicit labs can persist even after a site is shuttered, which is why hazmat teams and federal partners are typically called in to stabilize these scenes, according to studies published on PubMed Central.
Port Orange police say their investigation into the Palm Vista Street lab is still active and that more details will be released when available. Initial reporting on the arrest and discovery came from WKMG/ClickOrlando.
