Homes Evacuated, Berryhill Couple Arrested After Dangerous Chemicals Found

Tulsa Police say a confidential informant led them to a Berryhill neighborhood, and what started as a narcotics investigation led to an emergency situation and the discovery of homemade bombs.

"They aren't really telling us a lot other than they found bomb-making materials in a house down the street from mine," neighbor Stephanie Holmburg said.

Investigators worked late Tuesday and early Wednesday and after finding what they call many dangerous chemicals in the home.

Police arrested 41-year-old Don Alexander II and his wife 33-year-old Tina Alexander. Don is being held without bond on drug and explosives complaints and Tina is being held without bond on an endeavoring to manufacture complaint.

Sources tell News On 6 that Alexander's bedroom was full of glasses, as well as cables, wires, and chemicals.

They say Alexander admitted to making his own black powder and one box in his room was labeled "explosive".

"Due to the extreme nature of the chemicals, [investigators] felt that it was very important to act quickly," Tulsa Police Capt. Jonathan Brooks said.

SOT officers served a search warrant and entered the home in the 6300 block of West 23rd Street. Then they called in Tulsa Fire's hazmat unit and the TPD's bomb squad.

"They have oxidizers, reactive metals, they've got solvents in there," said Stan May, of the Tulsa Fire Department. "They aren't classifying it as a drug-related incident or bomb-related incident until they get in there and categorize those chemicals. But those chemicals are used for both of those endeavors."

The family at the home -- Alexander, his wife and minor children -- was evacuated. Four homes immediately adjacent were also evacuated, Brooks said.

Brooks said recent 911 calls had been placed from the area that could shed light on the situation.

"Loud noises and explosions have been reported in the neighborhood in the last few weeks," he said.

Holmburg said that three weeks ago, she heard two explosions in the middle of the night.

"It was loud enough that you felt your house shake," said neighbor Missy Settles.

Tulsa County records show Alexander has been living in this house since 2007. He has no criminal record in Tulsa, but police say he was charged in Texas with possession of marijuana and narcotic equipment, as well as carrying a prohibited weapon.

Alexander's wife, Tina, was also charged Wednesday and the couple's two minor children are being cared for by DHS.

Authorities say they are taking the case very seriously.

"This is a little bit different level than just what we'd call a one-pot method of meth manufacturing," Brooks said. "It's more of an extreme nature. Something of this nature doesn't happen very often."

Police are in the process of determining if Alexander purchased the chemicals found, and, if so, where they were purchased.

Tulsa Fire says they found six one pot method labs, along with lab equipment reminicent of labs used to make meth 10 to 15 years ago.

Toulene, acetone, peroxide, alumium powder, and sodium hydroxide were just a few of the chemicals found at and removed from the residence.

Tulsa Fire Haz-Mat crews did not finish the cleanup until 8:30 p.m. after spending more than 13 hours at the scene and almost 6 hours cleaning up the chemicals from the home.