What Happened: Investigators recovered more than 1,000 potentially hazardous samples and laboratory equipment from a Las Vegas home linked to a 2023 Reedley, California, biolab probe. Arrest: Property manager Ori Solomon, 55, was arrested on hazardous-waste charges and faces a federal firearms allegation. Next Steps: Samples were secured at the Southern Nevada Health District Laboratory and flown to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center in Maryland; testing is ongoing and officials say the site has been remediated.
Potential Biolab Found in Las Vegas Garage — Over 1,000 Samples Seized, Property Manager Arrested
Potential Biological Lab Found In Las Vegas Garage, More than 1000 Samples Sent for TestingLas Vegas Metropolitan Police
More than 1,000 samples of potentially hazardous material were recovered from a home in northeast Las Vegas after investigators discovered laboratory equipment and numerous vials and containers stored in a locked garage, authorities said.
Ori SolomonChase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty
Investigation and Arrest
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said investigators received limited information a little over a week earlier that laboratory equipment and potentially dangerous materials were being stored at the Sugar Springs Drive residence. Detectives later determined the property was linked to an illegal biolab investigation in Reedley, California, from 2023. The person connected to that California probe is already in federal custody and has pleaded not guilty, according to officials and reporting.
Potential Biological Lab Found In Las Vegas Garage, More than 1000 Samples Sent for TestingLas Vegas Metropolitan Police
Police arrested 55-year-old Ori Solomon, the property's manager, and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center on state charges of disposing of and discharging hazardous waste. A federal criminal complaint reviewed by PEOPLE also alleges Solomon is a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Potential Biological Lab Found In Las Vegas Garage, More than 1000 Samples Sent for TestingLas Vegas Metropolitan Police
What Investigators Found
Authorities said the garage was the primary storage and work area. Investigators observed multiple refrigerators and a freezer, a biosafety hood and sticker, a centrifuge, gallon-sized containers with red-brown liquid, refrigerated vials of unknown substances and other laboratory-type equipment. When officers opened some refrigeration units, they found a significant volume of vials and storage containers with liquids of varying colors and compositions.
"Almost immediately, investigators observed multiple refrigerators, a freezer, and other laboratory-type equipment along with numerous bottles and jugs containing unknown liquid substances," Sheriff McMahill said, noting the items resembled equipment from the Reedley investigation.
According to court documents cited by KLAS, one resident said the garage was always locked and another described a foul, stale odor coming from the space. The records also reported two people became "deathly ill" several days after entering the garage and were bedridden.
Evidence Handling and Public Safety
FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto said investigators collected more than 1,000 samples, which were stored at the Southern Nevada Health District Laboratory. The samples were later transported by FBI aircraft to the National Bioforensic Analysis Center in Maryland for testing. Officials emphasized that testing will be methodical and take time.
Sheriff McMahill told the public that the scene had been remediated and there was no ongoing safety threat to the house or neighborhood. Authorities continue the investigation and await laboratory results to determine the exact nature of the materials recovered.
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