Meth Lab Explosion at Apartment Complex

Stan Price lives directly above the apartment unit where the explosion happened at Colony Club at Drake's Landing Apartments.

"It was loud, about lifted the sofa off the floor," he said.

The explosion happened at about 10:30pm Tuesday night. Neighbors ran out of their units to see what was going on. The blast blew out a window and shattered the glass in two doors leading to the terrace of the apartment. Fortunately there was no sustained fire.

Gulf Shores Police arrested 24 year old Jacqueline Cagle. She received minor injuries in the blast. Cagle has been charged with manufacturing meth. But 29 year old Grant Brieber wasn't so lucky. He was flown to USA Medical Center to be treated for burns.

People who live at this upscale apartment complex say they haven't experienced anything like this before. But Skip King, a Michigan man who spends several months a year in Gulf Shores, bought into the complex when it was being marketed as condos at $1100 a month. "I guess its not as upscale as it was a few years ago," he said.

King said turmoil and financial problems among former owners of the complex have contributed to the facility being marketed as apartments. "I think the rent now is something like $550 a month. Obviously you attract a different level of renter," he said.

Gulf Shores Police expect to charge Brieber once he is treated and released from the hospital. They also say there may be others charged in connection with the explosion.