Explosion Leads Cops To Alleged Honey Oil Lab In Larkfield

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Larkfield man was arrested after his alleged makeshift honey lab exploded, startling the neighborhood, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Deputies and Rincon Valley firefighters responded at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday to reports of a loud explosion, Sonoma sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

As emergency personnel arrived, Thomas Neal Tuttle, 64, was seen exiting a side gate of the residence and appeared "wet, disheveled and confused from the blast," Crum said.

Tuttle initially told deputies he didn’t know what caused the blast, Crum said.

However, as deputies and firefighters searched for victims and possible fire, they allegedly found empty butane canisters, marijuana and other extraction equipment that led them to believe Tuttle was operating an illegal honey oil lab in his garage.

"Honey oil is essentially concentrated cannabis and the method to extract the oil from the marijuana plant is a dangerous process," Crum said.

Deputies soon found the source of the blast: a refrigerator in the side yard had been blown outward. A portion of fence separating Tuttle's residence from his neighbor's was also destroyed in the blast.

Deputies evacuated three people from the residence in question and later determined they had no involvement with Tuttle's honey oil lab, Crum said.

No one was injured in the blast and the damage was limited to the refrigerator and the fence, the sergeant said.

A search warrant was served at the home, leading to Tuttle's arrest on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance.

Tuttle remained in custody Tuesday at Sonoma County in lieu of $100,000 bail, Crum said.

Photos courtesy Sonoma County Sheriff's Office