Another Hash Oil Lab burns

A house on Bonita Drive in Aptos caught on fire and the homeowner; Antonio Gallindo-Perches was severely injured and was transferred to the hospital to undergo treatment. Four dogs were present in the residence and one of them died from burn injuries. This past Friday, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating a Butane Hash Oil Lab discovered after Aptos La Selva Fire personnel responded to the house fire. Deputies discovered indoor marijuana cultivation along with the materials used to process marijuana into hash oil.
Inside the Bonita DriveresidenceDeputies found over 400 butane canisters being stored. Fortunately, the fire did not reach the main butane storage area, which had over 300 of the canisters. Had these been ignited it could have further jeopardized the Bonita Drive neighborhood.
“This is the second butane hash oil lab that has caught on fire in our county in the last week. These labs are causing safety concerns and bringing risk into our neighborhoods. Any type of drug manufacturing or sales case occurring in a neighborhood that is brought to our attention will be thoroughly investigated by our detectives, “said Sheriff Jim Hart.