Authorities say a 19-year-old man was arrested Monday after mercury was found spilled in Houston parking lots, leading dozens of people to be decontaminated as a precaution.
The agency's Houston office said Christopher Lee Melder had been charged with burglary and unlawful disposal of hazardous material.
The FBI said he allegedly broke into a lab and stole the toxic metal.
On Sunday, less than a pint of mercury was found spilled in the parking lots outside three businesses located near one another: a Walmart, a Sonic Drive-In and a Shell gas station.
On Monday, Houston health officials said mercury had also been detected inside the Walmart.
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