House explosion reveals alleged hashish lab

Two Bristol residents are facing multiple charges after the State Street fire last month

By Patrick Luce
Posted 8/17/17

Two residents are facing multiple drug charges after an explosion and fire in their State Street home revealed the hashish lab they were running, according to Bristol Police.

Kelly Normandin, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


House explosion reveals alleged hashish lab

Two Bristol residents are facing multiple charges after the State Street fire last month

Posted

Two residents are facing multiple drug charges after an explosion and fire in their State Street home revealed the hashish lab they were running, according to Bristol Police.

Kelly Normandin, 22, and Zachary R. Laber, 26, both of 228 State St., Apt. 1, were arrested this week after an investigation of a fire in their apartment last month, according to Bristol Police Capt. Brian Burke. A small explosion rocked the neighborhood just before 10 a.m. on July 15, causing a fire and buckling the front wall of the apartment building. Investigators determined the blast was the result of butane lighters used in the couple’s drug operation, according to police reports.

“There were indications of an operation to manufacture hash,” Capt. Burke said, noting investigators found jars of marijuana, hash oil and several canisters of butane. “It is believed the butane was being used to process the marijuana.”

Mr. Laber reportedly sparked a lighter, which somehow ignited a butane canister, causing the explosion. He was brought to the hospital for treatment of burns to the hands, arms and legs. There were no other injuries reported.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the blast and fire, along with police and officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions. No specific cause for the fire has been released yet, but police believe it was directly related to the drug manufacture.

Ms. Normandin was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession, possession with intent to deliver, maintaining a common nuisance and three counts of controlled substance conspiracy. Mr. Laber was charged with manufacture, possession, possession with intent and maintaining a common nuisance. Both turned themselves in at Bristol Police Headquarters this week. They are due back in court Oct. 27.

The Bristol Building Department is monitoring the building, which is currently unoccupied. Boards are holding up the front wall that buckled in the explosion. Bristol Building official Richard Pimental was unavailable for comment.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.