Authorities: Man had two pit bulls guarding meth lab in hotel room
A 40-year-old Palatine man who used two pit bulls to guard the meth lab he operated for a month in a Grayslake hotel room faces multiple drug charges, authorities said Tuesday.
Martin P. Bloomberg was taken into custody Monday night after authorities received a tip he was running a methamphetamine lab at Comfort Suites at 1775 E. Belvidere Road. A variety of flammable chemicals were found in the room, and authorities forced patrons to evacuate the building as a safety precaution during the hazardous cleanup.
Bloomberg has been charged with aggravated participation in methamphetamine production in a multiunit dwelling and aggravated method of methamphetamine manufacturing, authorities said. He also faces charges of possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful participation in methamphetamine manufacturing, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and possession of false identification, authorities said.
If found guilty of the most serious charge at trial, he could be sentenced to 6 to 30 years in prison. He is held on $500,000 bail.
Dressed in a white jumpsuit — like the one worn by the main character in the TV show “Breaking Bad” — Bloomberg declined his one phone call in front of Judge Christen Bishop. He is due back in court April 21.
Before the court hearing, Bloomberg was taken by Lake County MEG officers to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital after he threatened to harm himself, police said in a news release. He was treated and released, and was taken to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, authorities said. During the trip, Bloomberg hit his head against the inside of the squad car and threatened to harm himself, authorities said in the release. He was taken to Vista Hospital in Waukegan for evaluation, and he was treated and released.
Officials said Lake County MEG received a tip through Crime Stoppers that Bloomberg was running the meth lab at the hotel.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Christopher Corbin said officers confronted Bloomberg as he walked out of his room Monday night. They returned with a warrant and searched the room.
Bloomberg's room was guarded by two pit bulls, Corbin said. Police recovered ammonia, several cooking vessels, various chemicals and other items, and small quantities of methamphetamine, he said.
Bloomberg was the only person registered to the room and the only person with access, Corbin said.
Lake County MEG Director Chris Sullivan said agents spent four hours evaluating and cleaning up the room. Bloomberg had stayed at the hotel “for about a month,” and police believe he had been using the room as a lab during his entire stay, Sullivan said.
Calls to the Comfort Inn in Grayslake were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Sullivan said the investigation remains open and authorities are testing items recovered in the hotel room.
Corbin said the hotel was evacuated, and patrons were moved to another hotel while police quarantined and searched the building.
No one was injured, and the hotel reopened a short time later, Grayslake police said.