Second Chance gave little warning to the closure of their facility Saturday

The controversial drug rehabilitation center Second Chance abruptly closed up Saturday leaving questions about where it sent 19 inmates housed at the West Side facility.

The City of Albuquerque said when they got word Saturday afternoon something was happening at the Second Chance, they sent police officers to check it out. The officers confirmed all the inmates and personnel at the facility were gone.

The city says Second Chance vacated its property on the West Mesa without warning. The rehab program was still housing 19 inmates as of Wednesday. On Saturday night, no one was able to say where they are.

"I would hope that those individuals were returned to the counties they came from," Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said.

The abrupt closing stems from a landlord-tenant dispute between Second Chance and the City of Albuquerque. Pete Dinelli said the rehab center violated the terms of its lease.

"They basically had people in there that had no business being there," he said. "The facility was never designed for violent felons."

City leaders ordered Second Chance out by the end of January. But the dispute appeared to be headed for court--until Saturday.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is a late Christmas gift," Dinelli said.

Now, the city must decide what to do about the bill they say Second Chance has not paid.

"It looks like we may be owed some money. Anywhere between $10,000, upwards to $90,000 in past rents as well as utilities," Dinelli said.

The city said they may have to sue Second Chance to get their money.

Calls to the president of Second Chance went unanswered Saturday.