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SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 8/10/08, at 8:10 p.m. officers responded to a stabbing that had just occurred at the Guest House Inn located at 3344 State St. When the officers arrived they found an 18 year old male victim lying in front of the lobby bleeding profusely. The victim was suffering from multiple stab wounds to his body and an injury to his face. The victim was transported to Cottage Hospital.

During the investigation, detectives identified one of the assailants as Pablo Lopez, 18 years of age. On 08/12/08, at approximately 9:00 a.m., detectives went to Lopez’s place of employment and took him into custody. Lopez was subsequently booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for Attempt Murder, Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang, and Intimidating a Witness. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to please call the Santa Barbara Police Department at (805) 897-2300.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 7/29/08 at 3:16 a.m., officers responded to a call of subjects tampering with the exhaust system of a Toyota 4-Runner in the 200 block of Mohawk Dr. Due to the recent rash of catalytic converter thefts in the city, a perimeter was set up in the area of the call. The reporting party said that a red vehicle was seen parked and running next to the Toyota 4-Runner. Officers drove into the 100 block of Mohawk Dr. and saw a red car stopped in the roadway and a subject walking away from another 4-Runner parked in that block. When the subject saw the Officers, he then got into the red car. Officers then stopped the vehicle and contacted three occupants. Officers observed tools in the vehicle consistent with tools capable of removing catalytic converters. A search of the vehicle revealed five catalytic converters in the trunk. Officers then found a Toyota 4-Runner with a missing catalytic converter parked in front of the reporting party’s house. The occupants, 26 year old Jose Eduardo Elvir (from Los Angeles), 33 year old Francisco Gegan Torres (from Las Vegas), and 20 year old Rafael Perez Marquez (from Los Angeles) were arrested on-scene for grand theft. Detectives were called in to interview the suspects and conduct the follow-up investigation in this case.

Elvir was subsequently booked at Santa Barbara County Jail (SBCJ) for grand theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, false information to a peace officer, and violation of parole. Torres and Marquez were subsequently booked at SBCJ for grand theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy.

The police department would like to remind the community to utilize their driveways and garages to park their vehicles. In addition, please don?t hesitate to call the police if you observe any suspicious behavior in your neighborhood.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 7/28/2008 - Early Friday morning, the Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team (SBRNET) working in conjunction with Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), concluded a yearlong investigation into a local Santa Barbara illegal Firearms and Drug trafficking organization. With the assistance from nearly 100 Local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers, seven search warrants and nine arrests warrants were served in the city of Santa Barbara. Due to the on-going nature of the investigation, additional information will be provided at a later time. If you have any questions feel free to contact Ken Bambrick, Task Force Commander, Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team at (805) 686-2555.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 7/7/2008 - In the upcoming weeks (July 7, 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., July 8, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and July 17, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.), The Jewish Federation will host the Santa Barbara Police department in an effort spearheaded by Police Chief Cam Sanchez to present to police employees the Portrait of Survival Exhibit.

Portraits of Survival: Life Journeys During the Holocaust and Beyond is a permanent exhibit in photography and educational program which depicts the experiences of Santa Barbara residents who survived the Holocaust. Housed at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara (524 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara) the program features survivors who speak with groups of all ages and backgrounds about living through horror and creating a life “beyond” trauma. The program lends hope and inspiration as it reaches out into the entire community in ways that are meaningful, within contemporary life and for future generations.

Officers will tour the exhibit, hear from some survivors whose stories are depicted in the exhibit, and view a brief film which summarizes some of the survivor experiences. In this way, officers can witness how the program resonates in life altering ways for participants of all ages, offering possibility beyond trauma and adversity, to inspire meaningful living and positive human connection.

The police department has developed this partnership with the Jewish Federation. This partnership will give the police department the opportunity of taking many young people through this exhibit as part of our on-going youth violence strategy. Young people from the Police Activities League (PAL) program as well as those from our community will continue to benefit from this program as part of the community’s, Mayor Blum’s, and City Council’s commitment to educate our youth against the negative effects and negative consequences of hate at any level. The police department employees play a key role in this citywide strategy, thus the officer’s involvement in being a part of the strategy through their personal visit to this exhibit.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 7/7/2008 - The Homicide investigation of the death of a local 15 year old male juvenile is ongoing. Thus, the police department is not releasing the name of the juvenile. A total of ten arrests have been made which include 6 juveniles and 4 adults:

A 15 year old male juvenile for Homicide and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

A 17 year old male juvenile for Conspiracy to Commit an Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

A 13 year old male juvenile for Conspiracy to Commit an Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

A 15 year old male juvenile for Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

A 15 year old male juvenile for Conspiracy to Commit an Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

A 15 year old male juvenile for Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

Miguel Marquez (21) for Conspiracy, Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

Richard Silva Garcia (19) for Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang and a misdemeanor warrant

Edwin Josimar Miguel (18) for Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

Manuel Adrian Lira (19) for Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang

This incident is considered gang related. The police Department is asking for the public’s help with this investigation. If anyone has any information about this incident, please call the Santa Barbara Police Department at (805) 897-2300.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 07/04/08 at approximately 9:16 p.m., shortly before the fire works show, officers were dispatched to a call of a subject near the Dolphin Fountain/ Sterns Wharf suffering from stab wounds. Officers responded and located a 15 year old male juvenile with lacerations. Medics responded and transported the juvenile to Cottage Hospital where he was treated and released. At about the same time, officers were flagged down on a report of a second stabbing victim on the 200 block of East Cabrillo Boulevard. Additional officers responded to the 200 Block of East Cabrillo Boulevard and located a 15 year old juvenile with stab wounds. This juvenile was unresponsive. Medics responded and transported the 15 year old male juvenile to Cottage Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Moments later, police received information that a 14 year old juvenile had been transported to Cottage Hospital by family members. This juvenile was suffering from a stab wound and he claimed the incident happened near Cabrillo Boulevard.

Due to the number of officers working for the Fourth of July event, numerous officers were allocated from other assignments and responded to the hospital and both locations on Cabrillo Boulevard to assist with the investigation by conducting crowd control, detaining subjects, locating and interviewing witnesses, and securing evidence. At the time of this press release, no suspects were in custody. The investigation is considered gang related and ongoing. The police department is asking for the publics help with this investigation. If anyone has any information about this incident, please call the police department at (805) 897-2300.

On 06/29/08 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Officers responded to the parking lot at 930 San Pascual on a report of subjects holding someone on the ground who had a gun. Upon arrival, officers saw the suspect, later identified as Damian Nolasco (20 years of age) flee the scene by jumping over a fence to the apartment complex. Officers continued their search for Nolasco and located him running through an adjacent apartment complex. Nolasco initially did not comply with officer’s commands to stop. He subsequently did so and was taken into custody.

Officers were able to piece together the events that led to the call for service. The suspect, Damian Nolasco, had attempted to rob three people for their cigarettes. When the victims failed to have any cigarettes, Nolasco produced a handgun, worked the slide, and pointed it at one of the victims. All three victims became engaged in a fight with Nolasco over the gun. They were able to take the gun away from Nolasco and then Nolasco ran away. The investigation revealed that the gun was a 9mm handgun which was loaded. Nolasco was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail and booked for attempted robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 6/30/2008 - On 06/28/08 at approximately 4:08 p.m., officers responded to the Harbor West Parking Lot, 1332 Harbor Way, on a call of a stabbing that had just occurred. Upon arrival, officers saw medics and fire personnel attending the 30 year old victim. The investigation revealed that the victim had been sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by two Hispanic male adults in their 20’s. One of the suspects addressed the victim by using profanities and then suddenly began stabbing the victim through the open car window. The victim could not provide any further description of the suspects or the motive for the assault. The victim received wounds to his upper and lower torso and was admitted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for non life threatening injuries.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 6/24/2008 - THE SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND RAILROADS TEAM UP TO ENFORCE SAFETY: The Officer-on-A-Train program gives officers a first-hand look at dangerous and illegal behaviors locomotive engineers see on a daily basis.

In an effort to heighten awareness about the importance of rail safety, members of the Santa Barbara Police Department and Southern California Rail Safety Team (RST) will be working on an Officer-on-a-Train safety event along the tracks in Santa Barbara and outlying areas on Thursday, June 26, 2008. Officers from the Union Pacific Police Department and Santa Barbara Police Department will be observing railroad crossings and the right-of-way. Officers will be issuing citations to both drivers and pedestrians for rail-related code violations such as trespassing, failing to stop at a railroad crossing signal, and driving around down railroad crossing gates.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 6/19/2008 - On Tuesday June 17, 2008, Santa Barbara Police Department Officers, along with two females, ages 15 and 17, worked a tobacco undercover buy operation. The hours of the operation were from noon to 8:00 p.m. The operation was funded by Santa Barbara County Public Health Department as part of their Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program. The purpose of this operation was to enforce Penal Code Section 308 (a) which makes it illegal to sell, give, or furnish tobacco products to any person under the age of 18.

The Officers formed two teams, each working with one of the female decoys. One officer worked in plain clothes, entering the store just before the decoy, so as to provide for her security and to observe what took place. The decoy would approach the clerk and ask for a particular brand of cigarettes. If the clerk asked for identification, the decoy would present her identification. If the clerk asked the decoy her age, she would tell the clerk her true age. If the clerk sold to the decoy, she would exit the store and give the cigarettes, change and receipt to the uniformed officer outside, who would enter the store and assist in issuing the clerk a citation, interviewing the clerk and taking photographs of the purchased cigarettes, change and any other evidentiary items. The cigarettes and change were returned to the store. The original buy money was collected to be used at the next location. During this operation, 40 locations were contacted. 7 citations were issued to clerks at the following locations:

Cantwell?s Market

AM/PM (1935 State St.)

Long?s Drug Store (3939 State St.)

7-Eleven (3430 State St.)

USA Gas (8 S Milpas St.)

Circle K (200 S Milpas St.)

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