Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man in Goleta on suspicion of operating a Butane Honey Oil lab in his vehicle.
Deputies were reportedly called to the 6500 block of Camino Venturoso in Goleta at about 3 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a suspicious person in a parked vehicle.
Sheriff’s officials say they arrived to find that there had been an explosion that blew out the vehicle’s windows, reportedly sending debris more than 40 feet to each side.
Investigators say James Girona, 43, of New York was using volatile chemicals as part of a suspected Butane Honey Oil extraction operation when something went wrong, sparking the explosion.
Girona reportedly suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Sheriff’s officials say deputies also found a live alligator snapping turtle that Girona had apparently brought with him from New York. The turtle was not injured and was reportedly turned over to a local animal shelter.
Girona was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance.
