HAZMAT building owner denied chance to tell his side - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

The 13abc I-team was there as a local doctor tried to clear his name Thursday after a hazmat situation inside his lab in May.  When we tried to make his case, tell his side of the story, he was told he could not. 

Dr. Prakash Thombre owns the building in the 1000 block of Broadway that was raided by Lucas County Health Department, firefighters and even members of the Army 52^nd Civil Service Brigade in May.   He wanted to speak at the Toledo-Lucas County Board of Health meeting but he was told he could not make his case.  He was told he'd have to go through the board's committees.

 "Would the board like to know my side of the story," asked Dr. Thombre.  "What you're getting is not truthful at all." 

 He says while this place is rundown, it is safe. 

"No public comes into the building, never did because it's a production facility.  I am the only person.  It's like my own private garage.  Are we going to go into people's bedrooms and start picking up their bed sheet and say ok, here's a swab for…. MRSA," said Dr. Thombre. 

"The building I will tell you, I have seen the pictures and I will assure you is in such disarray and problems that it is of concern, the concerns were legit.  We were very fortunate that concerns about more important bio terrorism things did not occur," said Dr. David Grossman of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. 

Doctor Grossman says while no bio terrorism items were found, some things are still being analyzed and several fire hazards were found.  Doctor Thombre says the lack of bio terrorism further proves this was a witch hunt and racial profiling.

"He's right we did not find anything of that sort, but to not be concerned would be the bigger mistake," said Dr. Grossman.  "If you threw a match in there I am pretty sure you would not have to worry about this building anymore."    

"I have been spat upon, attacked, because I have been called a bio terrorist.  This is just unfair," said Dr. Thombre.   "Security and welfare is all our shared responsibility.  We are American and I am American and no one can take that away from me."