Full Notification

Public Information Release
August 21, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


A follow-up investigation for an unrelated case has resulted in the discovery of a butane honey oil lab and one arrest.

On August 15, 2014 at approximately 9:00 am, deputies responded to an address located in the 6000 block of 1st Avenue in Lucerne to conduct follow-up on an unrelated case. During the investigation deputies noticed several items inside the residence which were components to a butane honey oil (BHO) lab.

BHO labs are used to extract the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the plant material by using butane as a solvent. THC is the psychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant. The most dangerous aspect of a BHO lab is the manufacturing process. Butane is extremely volatile and large amounts of it are used in mostly closed-room makeshift labs. Fires and explosions caused by these makeshift labs have become very common in Lake County, threatening the safety of its citizens.

The deputies contacted members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, who responded to the aforementioned address. Narcotics detectives contacted 22 year old Jessica Louise South of Lucerne and 38 year old Raymond Stroud Bowman of Nice. South told detectives that Bowman does not live at the residence. She escorted the detectives to the spare bedroom, which is where the deputies had located the lab components. South told detectives that most of the property in the spare room was left behind from the previous tenants and the rest belongs to Bowman.

In plain view detectives located a BHO glass extraction tube filled with marijuana and a glass dish containing honey oil. They located several bulk bags of processed marijuana and shake, which was leftover from trimming the plants. The bulk marijuana was later weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 25.8 pounds. A large cardboard box containing cases of butane canisters, filters for the extraction tube and a digital scale was also located in the room. All of the listed items were seized as evidence.

South said Bowman recently brought some of his property to the residence. She admitted to having a relationship with Bowman, but denied that he was living there. When detectives told South that they had located a stack of paperwork in the room belonging to Bowman, she admitted that he was living at the residence with her. She said Bowman had instructed her to tell law enforcement that he was not living there, so her residence could not be searched. She also admitted that Bowman had requested to produce honey oil inside her house, but she refused.

Bowman told detectives that the paperwork located in the spare room was his, but denied ownership of lab components. Bowman denied living at the residence, but admitted to bringing his property there.

Detectives searched the master bedroom and the nightstand which was being used by Bowman. Inside the nightstand detectives located 21.3 grams of butane honey oil, two digital gram scales, two glass meth pipes, 8.5 grams of methamphetamine, .2 grams of heroin, 8 lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) pills, 5 diazepam pills and evidence indicating the sales of narcotics. 48 marijuana plants were also eradicated from the backyard.

Bowman was arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a narcotic for sale, cultivating marijuana and keeping a place to sell narcotics. During a search incident to arrest, detectives located two baggies containing methamphetamine in Bowman’s possession. The two baggies had a gross weight of 1.1 grams. Detectives also located a blue plastic cap with a dried used cotton ball stuck inside it and a hypodermic needle. Bowman was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for the asset forfeiture whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the Task Force with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.