O.C. man arrested after garage blast sets fire to house

An Orange County man who was found to have materials considered “dangerous and highly explosive” — including chemicals, powders and homemade mortars, in addition to methamphetamine — was arrested Wednesday after materials exploded in his Westminster garage in April and set fire to his house, law enforcement officials said.

Michael Livingston Parr, 49, has been charged with multiple felony counts related to the possession of a controlled substance, materials with the intent of making an explosive and a zip gun, as well as a misdemeanor count of possessing illegal fireworks, according to a joint statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office and Westminster police.

Officials allege that at the time of his arrest, Parr had about 33 grams of methamphetamine divided into plastic bags.

Prosecutors said that, if convicted, Parr faces a maximum sentence of six years and four months in state prison. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday, and prosecutors said they will ask for him to be held on $500,000 bail.

Prosecutors said that on the afternoon of April 2, Parr allegedly sparked an explosion in the garage of his home and authorities responded after receiving calls of a loud blast and fire.

Authorities found chemicals, powders, rolls of fuse and a tumbler used to refine powders to make them more explosive. He also had illegal fireworks and a zip gun, or improvised firearm, authorities said.

Investigators also found packing materials and a small digital scale, along with the methamphetamine.

Prosecutors said that Parr suffered severe burns to his face and head as a result of the blast, and had been hospitalized until his arrest.

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