**Re-sending as original did not go to media emails**
Date: Monday, March 19, 2018
Case # 2018-78572
Date and Time of Incident: March 18, 2018 at 5:31pm
Type of Incident: Marijuana Manufacture Explosion/BHO
Location of Incident: 3058 NE Weddell Road #2
Mentioned Persons:
David Carl Paulsen 32 years of age Bend Resident
Jennifer Rose Paulsen 32 years of age Bend Resident
Female Child 3 years of age Bend Resident
Narrative:
On March 18th at 5:31pm, Bend Police Officers were dispatched to multiple citizen reports of a "loud boom" in the area of NE Weddell Road and NE Hidden Valley Drive. When officers arrived, they determined an explosion had occurred at 3058 NE Weddell Road #2.
Officers found that David Carl Paulsen, Jennifer Rose Paulsen and a three-year-old child were inside of the residence at the time of the explosion. Both David and Jennifer sustained serious burn injuries and were transported to St. Charles Medical Center by Bend Fire and Rescue. The three-year-old child did not sustain any obvious injury, but was later evaluated at St Charles Bend as a precaution.
There was significant damage to the duplex structure due to the explosion inside. The neighboring duplex resident was evacuated until the structure could be safe.
The initial investigation suggested the explosion was due to the unlawful manufacture of butane honey/hash oil. Investigators obtained a search warrant, which was executed at the NE Weddell residence at about midnight. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators were able to locate evidence that showed the cause of the explosion was likely due to butane being used to extract THC for the manufacture of Butane Honey/Hash Oil (BHO). This investigation is still ongoing.
"Hash oil," also known as "honey oil," is derived from marijuana. The "hash" or "honey" is concentrated Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. "Hash oil" is manufactured by utilizing highly flammable materials, such as Butane, to refine and concentrate the THC, making a product which can range upwards to 90% THC content. Today's marijuana sold in recreational and medical dispensaries typically have THC content ranging from 15% to 20%, and some as high as 30%. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of marijuana BHO lab explosions in Oregon in recent years.
Bend Fire and Rescue, the Oregon State Police Arson and Explosives unit, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team (CODE), the Department of Human Services Child Welfare, and the Red Cross are assisting with this investigation.
At the time of this release, there have been no arrests made.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Bend Police Department at 541-693-6911.
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