Rock climber’s house or drug den? Photo: OC Register
This is a weird one, so brace yourself:
On Tuesday night, an Irvine, Calif. resident called police because he thought someone had broken into his home. Police didn’t find a burglar, but spotted white powder scattered around the home’s interior.
Thinking they’d stumbled into a drug lab, they dispatched a SWAT Team and commenced a 13-hour hazardous materials probe. During which two officers complained of dizziness, “became ill” and were sent to the hospital. Three nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
While in custody, the home’s resident was described as “evasive,” by police, so they didn’t get much info.
Nevertheless, twelve hours later, the hospitalized police were fine and the home was dusted with chalk. They’d realized: Ohhhhh, this dude scales stone, telling the OC Register: “The subject described himself as an avid rock climber or mountaineer,” and “all of this stuff makes sense in that context.”
And that’s the least-weird part. Here’s where it gets bizarre: Police said the house was a “low oxygen environment,” which perhaps explains why the afflicted cops felt unwell. And climber’s chalk wasn’t the only substance found. Police detected calcium sulfate, too—normally used to absorb moisture (it’s in those little packets that say “Do Not Eat”).
But apparently this guy was using it to purposely create a low oxygen environment. Why? He’s training to climb Mt. Everest, neighbors said.
“This is the environment he sets up to deplete the oxygen in a room to help with his training,” police told reporters.
Only weird if you don’t know, I guess.
