MCKEES ROCKS (KDKA) — The DEA and FBI investigated suspicious activity inside an abandoned church in McKees Rocks and now one person is in custody.

The building has been abandoned for about 20 years.

Authorities arrested 27-year-old Sergie Materney who is described as a notorious drug lab builder and illegal drug maker.

“We’re right now in the process of collecting evidence there and vandalizing what could possibly been in the makings,” McKees Rocks Police Chief Robert Cifrulak said.

However, investigators did not find any illegal drugs inside the building Thursday.

“He told us that he’s an amateur chemist and that he’s conducting some sort of experiment on something to obtain some type of reaction,” Cifrulak said. “That was his explanation.”

Police say the building was already under investigation.

Meantime, police say Materney has an 18-page criminal history with multiple drug manufacturing convictions.

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