HOUSE BLAZE LEADS TO MAN'S DRUG ARREST

1998 San Francisco Chronicle

A man house-sitting for his ill mother in Concord accidentally started a
fire while attempting to make methamphetamine in her garage and torched the
house, police said yesterday.

John Tonningsen, 41, was booked at the County Jail in Martinez on a felony
charge of manufacturing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $250,000.

The fire broke out at 10:48 p.m. on Tuesday night at the home in the 3100
block of Bonifacio Street. The blaze was under control about 30 minutes
later.

The self-described unemployed contractor admitted to police and firefighters
at the scene that he had set up a lab to make methamphetamine, also known as
speed or crank, in the garage, said Concord police Sergeant Gary Norvell of
the department's narcotics division.

The lab found on Tuesday was the 12th methamphetamine lab found in Concord
this year and the second found since Saturday, Norvell said.

``These labs come in a an array of shapes and sizes,'' Norvell said. ``We're
finding them in motel rooms, cars, all kinds of places.''

Police described Tonningsen's lab as ``moderate'' in size. There is no
evidence that his mother, who is recovering from surgery at a convalescent
home, knew anything about it, Norvell said.

Firefighters managed to keep the blaze from spreading to other homes in the
neighborhood despite finding various flammable chemicals in the garage.

``They did an outstanding job. Their response time was very quick,'' Norvell
said. ``These explosions are generally the exception rather than the rule.''

Police discovered a small amount of the drug in the house, along with
scales, which investigators said indicated that Tonningsen was planning to
sell methamphetamine.

1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A22

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"