Full Notification

On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, just before 6:00 PM, deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station responded to the 1200 block of Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, regarding a call reporting smoke coming from a structure. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoF) responded as well, and when the LACoF personnel arrived on scene, they found the home on fire.

A 25 year-old male suspect who is a resident at the location, was injured in the fire and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of burn-related injuries.

The initial investigation has revealed the suspect was manufacturing concentrated cannabis, by operating a butane honey oil extraction laboratory, where honey oil or hash oil is extracted from the cannabis plant. Over 700 butane canisters were located inside the residence. Based on statements from the suspect, it is believed the explosion occurred as a result of static electricity when a light switch was turned on. The explosion and fire caused extensive damage to the structure.

Narcotics-related charges are pending for the suspect and the investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s (LASD) Arson/Explosives Detail and Narcotics Bureau is on-going. The Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Apprehension Crime Task Force (L.A. Impact) Lab Group also responded to process the lab and conduct a cleanup. L.A. Impact’s Lab Group, which consists of members from the Los Angeles Police Department and LASD, specializes in clandestine laboratory investigations. Incidentally, over the last two days, the Lab Group responded to three butane honey oil extraction laboratories within a 12-hour time period, two of which involved explosions. Other locations included Glendale and Huntington Park.

The L.A. Impact program is one of the initiatives of the Los Angeles "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area” (HIDTA) and is comprised of personnel from law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County. L.A. Impact seeks to anticipate and address critical law enforcement needs as they change. Since the inception, L.A. Impact’s main investigative focus has been one of the county's major social problems: drugs and drug- related crime. It has also assisted local law enforcement with homicide, kidnapping, robbery and burglary investigations.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Detective Frank Lyga of L.A. Impact at (323) 595-7228. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

If you see something, say something.

Authored by:
Kim Manatt, Deputy
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.lasd.org
Follow us at: Text and Emails, LASD HQ: http://www.Nixle.com
http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQ
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos
Twitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanol
Facebook LASD HQ: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Instagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ Pinterest
LASD Photos : http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0
Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification system http://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla
SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registry http://snap.lacounty.gov/

Text & Email, Register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" AND your local LASD station area. Or, to receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.

"If You See Something, Say Something"
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

John L. Scott, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department