On Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 1:27 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call of an explosion and smoke coming from an apartment in the 3300-block of Orcutt Road. Deputies responded to the residence along with County Fire and American Medical Response (AMR). When deputies arrived, one of the residents had already been transported by AMR with serious injuries. Deputies were able to quickly identified articles that are associated with a butane honey oil lab and detectives from the Cannabis Compliance Team (CCT) responded to assist with the investigation.
As a result of the initial investigation, 37-year-old Albert Alvarado of Santa Maria was arrested for child endangerment (felony), arson causing great bodily injury (felony), manufacturing a controlled substance (felony), manufacturing a controlled substance when a child under 16 is present (felony) and possession of marijuana for sale (misdemeanor). He was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail where he is being held on $500,000 bail. This investigation is ongoing.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind community members that the process of extracting oils from cannabis is not only illegal, but it is extremely dangerous. The violent explosion from this lab caused significant damage to the apartment including blasting a sliding door off the rails, and put the occupants and neighbors at serious risk. If you would like to report a suspected illegal extraction lab, you can call our anonymous tip line at (805)681-4171 or visit our website.
Possible Explosion in Santa Maria
Burn victim ran from a home in the 3300 block of Orcutt Road. Possible explosion and structure fire in a home.
Then a burn victim is being transported to Cottage Hospital after an unknown type incident in her home. Victim transported via CalStar 7, should be arriving by 2:25 pm.
Meth lab with a side of honey oil butane
Would this qualify for just cause eviction?
These are becoming common- The Pot-Pickers get to take the “trash leaves” and then they extract the oil out of them by compressing in copper pipes and butane… Super dangerous and endangers not only themselves blowing up, but potentially their neighbors…(like they care). Welcome to CA
I heard it was a female…I thought it was drugs pretty much right after hearing no smoke no fire.
Any follow up yet, Roger? It’s Sunday and I’m sure the “meal” they were cooking is over by now.
This is what happens when you have people like Doobie Brother Das approving any & all Mary Jane operations in the County & people want to generate a little extra schnitzel for themselves. Go Das!
Nowadays the perp has no worries. He’ll be out on low bail, the charges will be reduced to misdemeanors, and he’ll get probation.
Maybe he was just getting his honey ready for the farmers market on Wednesday.
If it has anything to do with pot, you can better believe Das & his buds are in on it making money.
This was in a home. Volatile extraction would not be legal by any means. I am not a fan of Das and have never voted for him, but somehow trying to tie him into this is insane. This type of underground activity will always go on with the barriers to entry into the legal market.