Bethlehem police and other agencies are tonight sorting through a hazardous materials incident at the Cherry Arms Apartments on Delaware Avenue, and it’s possible the brother of a teen involved in a house fire a year ago may be involved.
At about 2 p.m. today a resident of the apartments noticed what they thought were suspicious materials in a basement storage area, according to police. Bethlehem police, the Delmar Fire Department and, later, the Albany County Hazmat Team responded to the scene.
A source on the scene said Jason Sanchez is connected to the materials. His brother, Keenan Sanchez, was in the basement of his family’s Adams Place home late last year when an explosion occurred. Firefighters allowed the fire to consume the house due to the possibility chemicals were involved. Keenan Sanchez was pulled from the house by emergency responders and suffered serious burns.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was involved in a lengthy investigation into that incident, the results of which have not yet been made public.
Police are at this point releasing limited details on the Hazmat situation, and have not said who was involved or if any arrests have been made.
`We’re not in a position right now to discuss that much further,` Bethlehem Police Deputy Chief Timothy Beebe said.
Police did say it’s not clear what the materials are, and as such they’re being removed from the building and further analyzed.
Residents were evacuated from the complex, but later this evening were allowed to return.
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