Drug lab blast rocks Larkfield neighborhood

A Larkfield man remained in custody Tuesday morning, suspected of having a garage drug lab that caused a small explosion.

The loud noise generated 911 calls about 10:30 p.m Sunday, bringing Sonoma County deputies and firefighters to the Corbett Circle address. Deputies found Thomas Tuttle, 64, outside the house, reeling from the explosion, sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Crum said Tuesday.

“Tuttle was wet, disheveled and confused from the blast,” Crum said in a news release.

The man was living in the garage, where deputies said they found empty butane canisters, marijuana and other equipment, indicating a hash oil lab. Components also were in the side yard, where the explosion occurred, Crum said.

Deputies found a blown-apart freezer, where some of the hash oil was being kept, Crum said. A spark from the fridge motor could have ignited the gas inside. The force also destroyed part of a backyard fence.

Butane is used during the extraction process, taking oil from cannabis. The highly unstable butane is known to explode and start fires.

Three other people were at the house. They were evacuated, and deputies determined they had no connection to the lab.

Corbett Circle is off Faught Road, near Old Redwood Highway.

Deputies arrested Tuttle on suspicion of making hash oil. He was taken to the Sonoma County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.