Three arrested in Marysville on drug charges after explosion at motel, police say

Two men and a woman are facing charges of child endangerment and manufacturing a controlled substance after Marysville police responded to a honey oil lab explosion Monday morning.

The police received a call around 9 a.m. reporting a vandalism at the Budget Inn Motel. A unit there had its front and back windows blown out.

“All evidence indicated this to be an explosion from a honey oil lab,” police said in a statement.

Investigation revealed that there had been three adults and two children in the room at the time.

Marysville residents Brenda Pitkin, 36, and Leo Arnold, 42, were identified as suspects. During the explosion, they suffered second- and third-degree burns, going directly to a local emergency room.

The Yuba County District Attorney’s Office will file felony charges against them when they are released from the hospital.

Th other adult was identified as Shane Russ, who was at the room with his two children, both under 2 years old. The 25-year-old Marysville resident was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment and for manufacturing a controlled substance.

Child Protective Services took custody of the children and is searching for a family member with whom to reunite them safely, the statement said.

The Marysville Police Department worked with Yuba-Sutter narcotics and gang task force, NET-5 and the Marysville Fire Department on the investigation.

This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 5:11 PM.