A Youngstown man was indicted Thursday on charges after police say he caused an explosion while cooking meth in a Boardman hotel room.

Justin Bowman, 39, of Youngstown was indicted on charges of, Illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, Illegal manufacture of drugs, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence, inducing panic, and aggravated possession of drugs.

Police say the Days Inn on South Avenue was evacuated on the morning of May 11 when smoke filled a hall and fire alarms blared.

Bowman told police that the food he was cooking on a hot plate caught fire. 

However, Bowman couldn’t tell the police where the hot place was not located.

Detecting a chemical smell in the room, investigators looked at the hotel’s surveillance video and saw Bowman carrying a garbage bag to a nearby cell tower.

Firefighters say they found chemicals in the bag that could be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

In addition, the hotel room had to be condemned because of its exposure to toxic chemicals and will have to be gutted and renovated before it can be used again.