LAS VEGAS, February 1, 2024 — A potentially dangerous situation unfolded last Saturday when federal and local agents raided a residence northeast of Las Vegas following reports of a possible unauthorized laboratory and hazardous materials. The operation is directly linked to a 2023 investigation involving an illicit biolaboratory discovered in Reedley, California, raising concerns about unregulated biological research.
Investigation Links Las Vegas Site to California Biolab
Authorities discovered lab equipment and unidentified liquid substances during a search of a home on Sugar Springs Street.
- A search warrant was executed at a Las Vegas home on January 31st.
- The raid is connected to an unauthorized biolaboratory investigation in Reedley, California.
- Authorities found lab equipment and containers with unknown liquid substances.
- The property owner is in federal custody, and another individual was arrested for hazardous waste disposal.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), confirmed that the owner of the Las Vegas property is connected to the case in Reedley. The 2023 Reedley investigation uncovered materials potentially linked to pathogens including hepatitis, COVID-19, and HIV, prompting a heightened level of caution during the recent operation.
Given the potential hazards, a multi-agency response was initiated, involving the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Counterterrorism Department and ARMOR team, the FBI, and regional firefighters. Strict security protocols were implemented to minimize risks to first responders and the public.
The search warrant was executed at 5:51 a.m. on Saturday, January 31. Three individuals renting rooms at the residence were removed from the scene but are not currently considered suspects. Investigators focused their efforts on a locked garage, believing it to be the primary location of interest.
To ensure safety, drones were deployed for aerial reconnaissance, and a “touch robot” was utilized to collect air samples before personnel entered the garage. The specialized ARMOR team then entered the area equipped with protective gear.
Inside the garage, agents observed refrigerators, a freezer, laboratory-type equipment, and “numerous containers containing unknown liquid substances,” according to the official report. The nature of these substances is currently under investigation.
Evidence collection, involving multiple controlled entries and decontamination procedures, concluded around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. The seized materials were initially transported to a Southern Nevada Health District facility and will be sent to an FBI laboratory for comprehensive analysis. Authorities have declared the property remediated and safe.
A suspect linked to the property owner is currently in federal custody in connection with the Reedley investigation. Additionally, Ori Solomon, 55, was arrested on a charge of “disposing and discharging hazardous waste.”
Sheriff McMahill emphasized the crucial role of technology, such as drones and robotics, in protecting first responders during the operation. Authorities expressed gratitude to area residents for their cooperation throughout the process.
