Suspected drug items found in hotel room

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 10:20 a.m.

Metro Police today were awaiting test results of suspicious liquids and paraphernalia found in a Stardust hotel-casino guest room that investigators suspect are part of a possible drug lab.

Glassware filled with fluid, torches, matches and a hypodermic needle were discovered about 5 p.m. Thursday by a housekeeper about to begin cleaning the vacant ground floor room, said Lt. Gary Schofield.

"It may possibly be a lab, but we're not sure," Schofield said. "We called in our (clandestine) lab people to be on the safe side. The concern is the liquid that was found because we are not sure what it is."

The occupants of the room had already checked out by the time authorities arrived. Schofield said investigators were in the process of identifying who it was that rented the room that was paid for with cash.

One needle was found in a drawer. Other paraphernalia were found scattered about the studio's bath and sleeping areas, near the glasses holding the unidentified liquid, police said.

The test results are expected back in about one to two weeks, police said.

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