TERRA BELLA – On August 14, 2019, Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check at a home in Terra Bella.   A caller stated concern about two children possible in the home. The call was later believed to be a ruse, in order to get the Sheriff’s Office to respond.

When deputies arrived, Richard Moreno, 60, answered the door and told deputies there were no children living at the home.  no kids lived at the home. Deputies noticed Moreno appeared to be under the influence.  No children were found inside the home, but deputies did find several gallons of flammable liquids, bags of marijuana shake and glassware consistent with an active honey oil lab throughout the bedrooms and common rooms of the home.

The Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Investigation Team and the California Department of Justice Lab team took over the investigation.

“Honey oil labs pose a very big threat to neighbors because the material used can easily explode causing injury and fire,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “DOJ criminalists are trained to carefully dismantle these lab and deal with the hazardous material.  They provide a great assistance to local law enforcement departments.”

Moreno was arrested for being under the Influence of a controlled substance, maintaining a residence for narcotic use and manufacturing a lab.