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SANTA BARBARA, CA–3/9/2010–Attached is a sample of incidents handled by the Santa Barbara Police Department over the past several days:

On 3/4 at 9:15 p.m., Officer Sathre responded to the Rescue Mission at 535 W. Yanonali on a call of a robbery that just occurred. The male victim reported being with another man on a bus bench intending to sleep at that location. The suspect approached, holding a stick like a baseball bat. The suspect demanded a cigarette. Sensing danger, the victim tried to stand up to better his defensive position. The suspect then smacked him twice in the face, causing a laceration to his eyebrow area. The suspect grabbed the victim?s backpack and tried to flee. The victim grabbed it too, and got in a brief tug-of-war before being overpowered and letting go. The backpack primarily contained clothing and blankets. The suspect was last seen heading down the tracks toward Calle Cesar Chavez. Officer Palka checked the area and found the suspect hiding under a parked truck. The suspect and his clothing matched the suspect description. The suspect claimed that the night before, the victim had assaulted him and took over his favorite camping spot. When located he had neither the stick nor the stolen backpack with him. A witness came forward with the stick, found in a nearby parking lot. The backpack was not located. The victim?s companion reported that the night before, the suspect, armed with the same stick, menaced him and another homeless man, threatening to “kill you all.” Tonight the suspect, brandishing the stick, appeared and again threatened to “kill you all.” The companion became fearful and ran away. He heard but did not see the suspect smack the victim with the stick. The suspect, Jesus Huerta Velasquez, age 50 was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.

On 3/5 at 10:00 a.m., Police responded to the Harbor area to assist Harbor Patrol on a vandalism case that just occurred. Minutes earlier, the suspect, James Robert Wolfe, age 48 went to the Harbor Patrol Office because his boat had been impounded. The fees were $800. Wolfe left the office very upset, and punched out the front window to the West Marine store, which measured 24 by 42 inches. Wolfe fled, but a Harbor Patrol Officer caught and detained him in the 200 block of Castillo Street. Wolfe had fresh lacerations and blood on his knuckles, and admitted punching the window. He offered to pay, but instead was booked for vandalism.

On 3/8 at 10:08 a.m., Officers Montag and Washington responded to a fight call involving three men at the Lemon Tree Hotel parking lot, 2819 State Street. Police contacted one man who reported that while buying cigarettes at a neighborhood store, two male acquaintances snatched his cell phone off the counter and refused to return it. The man retrieved his guitar from his hotel room and contacted the pair at an RV parked in the area. An argument ensued, and the guitar man began swinging his guitar “for protection” while being chased by the two men, one armed with a tire iron. As police then went searching for the pair, one of them, named Kelly James Berger, age 42 tried to get away by running through some tall bushes. In this order Berger was: detained, gave a false name, police determined his true identity, was found to have a warrant stemming from a marijuana possession case, and was arrested for the warrant and providing a false name. The third man was identified but not located. The guitar man was cautioned about confronting people with guitar-in-hand. He was last seen searching the bushes for his missing cell phone.

On 3/8 at 8:30 p.m., Officer Lombardo responded to the area of 500 W. Carrillo Street on a call of a man who fell from the railroad trestle to the sidewalk. The trestle height was estimated at 25-30 feet. Witnesses reported seeing the man fall and sustain significant injuries. A passerby in a Range Rover drove the injured man to Cottage Hospital. Reportedly, several of the injured man?s friends had been at the scene, but they all left prior to police arrival. One witness was an off-duty SBPD officer. He reported seeing a group of young men up on the trestle. One of them fell to the sidewalk, shouting an expletive on his way down. Some spray-paint cans fell with him. The companions ran down to help their friend. They flagged down the driver of the Range Rover, helped the injured man inside, picked up the spray cans and left the area. They were not located. At Cottage Hospital, police contacted the injured man, identified as Freddie Gutierrez, age 18. He suffered a badly broken arm and a serious looking laceration to his forehead. He denied that graffiti vandalism had anything to do with the incident, and claimed to have been alone. He did claim gang membership. On his hands was fresh looking silver paint that matched fresh graffiti found up on the trestle overcrossing. Gutierrez was released to the hospital; police will ask the District Attorney for a criminal complaint charging vandalism.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–March 2nd, 2010–Update on Monday’s shooting incident in the 1500 block of Gillespie Street: The shooting occurred at 11:05 a.m. Prior to that, the suspect along with three associates is believed to have been parked in the area, including around the corner on 700 Alberta Street, for about 1 and a half hours. Their vehicle is described as an older black Volvo, possibly a 1990s model, somewhat dirty or unkempt. Neighbors reported that the vehicle and occupants were noticeably out of place for their neighborhood.

Inside the parked vehicle were four people:
1. A white male, age 40’s to 50’s.
2. A white female, with blond or brown hair.
3. Two black males, one taller than the other.

Detectives believe that while the vehicle remained in the area, the white male suspect walked to the victim’s residence and knocked at the door. It was answered by a middle-aged female resident. The suspect punched her in the stomach, knocking her down. He then brandished a handgun. The woman’s adult nephew stepped up to protect the woman. He was shot in the head at close range. The suspect returned to the Volvo, which fled the area by driving northbound on Gillespie Street.

The shooting victim was conscious at the scene and helped provide an account of the incident. He was transported to Cottage Hospital, where an X-Ray revealed the bulled pierced his skull, traveled partially around the inner circumference of his skull, and lodged in the inner portion of his skull. The bullet was removed and the victim remains conscious and responsive. He is in serious but stable condition.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the black Volvo is urged to contact Detective Mike Claytor, 805-897-2335.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–March 1st, 2010–This morning at 11:05 a.m., a shooting was reported at a residence in the 1500 block of Gillespie Street, near the corner of Arrellaga Street. The shooting occurred inside of the residence. The victim received a single gunshot wound to his head; however, was conscious at the scene before being transported to Cottage Hospital. The circumstances of the shooting are being investigated. The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s, who does not live at the residence. The weapon used was a handgun. After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in an older, black colored Volvo vehicle. Inside the vehicle were: a white female with long blond hair and two black males in their 20. All these parties were wearing black or dark colored clothing. They were last seen driving north up Gillespie Street.

More information will be released when available. Anyone with suspect information is urged to contact SBPD detectives at 805-897-2335.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 26th, 2010–Yesterday, Gregory Doan, age 58, pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run, and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a traffic fatality collision. The incident occurred on August 30th, 2008, on Las Positas near the intersection of Richelle Lane. In the incident, Doan was driving A 1995 Chevy full size cargo van southbound on Las Positas. Meanwhile, a group of 20 runners were traveling northbound on Las Positas, at the west shoulder, facing oncoming traffic. The runners were part of the Team in Training to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Included in the runner’s group was Carolyn Samuels, age 66. Samuels was an accomplished long distance runner, who had participated in several marathons, including the prestigious Boston Marathon.

The van began drifting to the right until it was wholly in the shoulder, which measured approximately 10-feet wide. The runners saw the van approaching, and started getting out of the way. At the last moment, Samuels and another runner moved further off the shoulder, and up a small embankment. The van took the same course and struck Samuels. The other runners were not struck or injured. The van proceeded further down Las Positas before stopping. The runners came to Samuels’ aid, called 911, and approached the van. Doan got out of his van, made a few statements, then got back in the van and tried starting the engine. Members of the running group grabbed and detained him until police arrived. Samuels was transported to Cottage Hospital where she died of her injuries.

Doan displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. A blood sample obtained over 2 hours after the collision returned with a blood-alcohol level of .21, plus evidence of opiate use (heroin.) Inside Doan’s van were empty vodka bottles. Inside his residence were more bottles, heroin, and syringes.
Officer Mark Hunt, the Traffic Accident Investigator for SBPD, supervised the investigation. He determined that Doan had 4 prior drunk-driving convictions between 1992 and 1998. In addition, many friends, co-workers, and acquaintances described Doan as a chronic alcoholic who frequently drove after drinking despite being warned not to.

More than 30 emergency personnel were involved in this investigation, including responding police officers, 9-1-1 Dispatchers, Fire Rescue, AMR Ambulance personnel, CHP, and SBSO deputies. The van was examined and found to have no pre-existing mechanical problems. Doan’s guilty plea reflects this possible sentencing scenario: 10 years for Manslaughter, 5 years for felony Hit-and Run, 1 year each for Assault with a Deadly Weapon for each of the surviving 19 runners, and 1 year enhancement due to aggravated circumstances.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 18th, 2010–Yesterday morning at 7:00 a.m., Santa Barbara Police officers and detectives served search warrants at two marijuana dispensaries located within the City of Santa Barbara. The operation followed a lengthy investigation concerning the dispensaries’ adherence to the provisions of the Compassionate Use Act. Pursuant to Court issued search warrants, police went to:

The Healing Center, at 1437 San Andres Street
Pacific Coast Collective, at 331 N. Milpas Street

The operation began with law enforcement solely having authority to search. However, detectives found evidence that these marijuana dispensaries were operating in violation of the Compassionate Use Act. As such, the dispensaries were operating as illegal marijuana dealers, despite the argument that they sometimes operated as legally required and intended.

The following people were arrested:
Juan Carlos Solis, age 32, owner of the Healing Center; for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, and criminal conspiracy.
Sinthia Alba Martinez, age 24, co-operator of the Healing Center; for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, and criminal conspiracy.
Charles Jeffrey Restivo, age 31, owner of the Pacific Coast Collective; for cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana.

In addition to searching the dispensaries, police served search warrants in the 700 blk. of W. Carrillo Street, 1100 blk. of San Andres Street, and 100 blk. of Ocean View in Carpinteria. These locations were either residences or storage locations used by the parties arrested. Police seized a total of: 45 pounds of marijuana; 12,000 marijuana plants ranging in size from 6 inch seedlings to fully mature 5-foot plants; 1 pounds of concentrated marijuana, also called hashish; and $8,000 in cash. In addition to this operation, the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department and Ventura County Combined Agency Taskforce conducted searches at marijuana dispensaries located in Goleta and Summerland, and a residence in Thousand Oaks.

The goal of the Santa Barbara Police Department is not to interfere with legitimate marijuana dispensaries operating within the provisions of the Compassionate Use Act. However, any marijuana dispensary that does not follow the law will be considered an illegal marijuana dealer.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–2/11/2010–Here is a sample of arrest cases handled by Santa Barbara Police officers this week:

On 2/8 at 1:00 a.m., police responded to a residence in the 1500 block of W. Valerio Street on an extortion investigation. A couple in their 60s had received a handwritten note in their mailbox demanding $3,000 cash. In the note, poorly written in Spanish, the suspect claimed membership in a notorious street gang. The note made threats against the couple’s family, specifically mentioning the wife and a grandchild by name. The note said to leave the cash in a specific location at a specific time. Police officers led by Detective Claytor set up a sting operation. Last night at 7:00 p.m., police contacted a man loitering near the drop zone. He denied any involvement in the extortion plot. Police located his 2001 Ford Ranger parked nearby and found evidence that linked the man to the extortion plot. Arrested for extortion and criminal threats was: Alfredo Alvarado Murillo, age 42. He was a former employee of the victims, and in the past had borrowed money from them. Recently, he was turned down for another loan because he never repaid the first one. Detectives have not found any evidence that Murillo is a member of any gang. Detectives believe these types of extortion crimes are underreported in our community. Anyone who has been the victim of a similar crime is urged to contact the Police Department, 897-2350.

On 2/10 at 8:30 a.m., a man living in an upstairs apartment in the 2100 block of De La Vina Street heard the back door to his balcony creaking open. Suspicious, the man checked and found a suspect crouched down on the balcony. The resident tried to grab him, but the suspect leaped over the railing, scampered down to the alley, and fled on foot. Police arrived but did not locate the suspect. As officer Burgard was checking the scene for fingerprints, he saw a man matching the suspect description quickly walk away from a nearby apartment complex. He radioed this update, and Officer Martinez located the suspect a block away. The suspect, Marcos Calzada, age 22, provided both a fake name and an unlikely explanation for being in the area. Further investigation determined that Calzada had an illegal knife in his pocket; a stolen I-Pod, stolen checkbooks, and other stolen property in his backpack. Detectives determined that Calzada had been taking shelter in an unoccupied apartment in the area. Calzada was linked to burglaries in the: 2100 block De La Vina Street, 200 W. Los Olivos Street, and an earlier one in the 500 block of Miramonte. Calzada was booked for three counts of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, illegal lodging, possession of an illegal knife, and falsely identifying himself to police. Calzada’s photo is being withheld pending further investigation.

On 2/10 at 9:00 p.m., Logan James Parkinson, age 18, went into Petrini’s Restaurant at 14 W. Calle Laureles. He loitered near the register for a few seconds before snatching the tip-jar off the counter and running out the door. Two employees gave chase down De La Vina Street to the Ralph’s grocery store parking lot at 2840 De La Vina Street. Despite running full speed, the lanky 6ft 3in, 150 lb Parkinson could not shake his pursuers. Parkinson tried to jump in the passenger door of a waiting black Jeep Cherokee. However, the driver of the Jeep started pulling away, possibly alarmed by the pursuers’ presence. Parkinson slipped to the ground, the tip jar shattered, the Jeep sped away, and the Petrini’s employees held Parkinson down until Officer Lombardo arrived to place him in handcuffs. A crack-pipe and syringe were found in his pockets. $20 in tip money was recovered. Parkinson was booked for: Burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 9th, 2010–On 2/5/10, Santa Barbara Police arrested Glen Mowrer III, age 39, for charges related to marijuana possession. The incident began at 10:30 p.m. when Sergeant Hunt noticed the driver of a Honda Element pull over and contact a suspected street prostitute on E. Gutierrez Street. Moments later when the vehicle pulled away, Sergeant Johnson stopped it for not having a front license plate. Sgt. Johnson contacted the driver and sole occupant Glen Mowrer III, and smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana. A police canine arrived to assist and alerted to marijuana in the rear of the vehicle. Police then recovered three large bags containing more than 20 pounds of marijuana, including the highly potent flower or “bud.” A narcotics detective assisted and determined that Mowrer was in violation of the Compassionate Use Act and on probation out of Siskiyou County. Pursuant to Court authorized terms, police conducted searches at Mowrer’s primary residence and a second residence where he had complete access to the garage. An additional 100 pounds of marijuana was seized. Police also located concentrated cannabis, hash-oil, and 23 live marijuana plants. Glen Mowrer III was booked at County Jail for possession of marijuana for sales and probation violation.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 9th, 2010–On three occasions last month, unknown suspects smashed their way into computer lab classrooms at Bishop High School, 4000 La Colina Road. The thefts occurred on the nights of: January 6th, 10th, and 24th. In each case, the suspects climbed a fence, smashed windows to gain entry, and fled before police arrived. Apple I-Mac computers were stolen in the first two cases, but not the third. School officials say the thefts will significantly impact their student’s computer learning skills. Anyone with suspect information is urged to contact Detective John Ingram at 897-2331. Callers may remain anonymous.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 4th, 2010–On January 31st at 1:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence on 600 W. Sola Street in regards to a possible child molestation incident that just occurred. Officers contacted a 5-year-old girl and her parents. The suspect was a street vendor who sold fruit and vegetables out of a push-cart in Westside neighborhoods. Officers fanned out and within an hour found the suspect in the 500 block of W. Victoria Street, wearing different clothing. He is identified as: Silvano Rodelas Rojas, age 60, of Los Angeles. According to witnesses, Rojas frequently traveled to Santa Barbara to sell produce out of his cart, and was a known figure in several neighborhoods. The investigation determined that the girl’s father was friendly to Rojas and had spoken with him on many occasions. On this date, Rojas went to their residence, and encountered the girl while the father was inside the residence. Rojas lured the girl to a secluded area in the apartment parking lot, and touched her in inappropriate ways. Just then, the victim’s mother drove home from an errand and witnessed Rojas touching her daughter. Rojas immediately left the scene and the parents called police. When arrested, Rojas had items in his possession that detectives believe were used to lure the victim to the parking lot. A description of these items and Rojas’ photograph are being withheld at this time. Rojas was booked at county jail for Child Molestation and the case is being handled by Deputy District Attorney Mary Barron.

Because Rojas frequently roamed neighborhoods where children lived, detectives are investigating the possibility of similar incidents. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detective Jose LaTorre, 897-2335.

SANTA BARBARA, CA–February 1st, 2010–A local man is in custody after crashing his vehicle into a police car in an unsuccessful bid to elude capture. This unusual story began after Police Dispatchers began receiving calls of a nude driver cruising San Roque neighborhoods, occasionally getting out and committing lewd acts. At 1:14 p.m. a witness driving at Alamar and Foothill reported that a man was standing in the street, committing a lewd act. The description was that he was completely nude, except for a red ball-cap. The man got into a Green 1995 Geo and drove away. The witness followed, called 9-1-1, and reported the suspect?s direction of travel. When the suspect realized he was being followed he sped up, running red lights and stop-signs. He eluded the witness in the area of Calle Noguera. Police responded to the registered owner?s address; neither the suspect vehicle nor the suspect was there. At 2:45, the suspect was reported to have driven past a day-care center located on 3800 Sunset Avenue. Several more calls came from witnesses in the area of Stacy Lane, Lincolnwood, and La Cumbre Road. Again, the suspect was committing lewd acts upon himself. Officer Washington arrived and spotted the suspect vehicle on La Cumbre Road. He turned on his lights and siren, but the suspect did not yield. The suspect turned onto La Cumbre Hills Road, a short dead-end street. When he reached the cul-de-sac, his escape route was blocked by a police vehicle. He crashed into the police car, backed up, and crashed into a fence. Another police car pulled up to completely seal any exit. Never-the-less, the suspect crashed into another parked car, and attempted to get around the blockade by jumping the curb. As additional officers arrived on-foot, the suspect swerved at them, apparently trying to run them over. The suspect crashed into a third parked vehicle before coming to rest in a planter. The Geo sustained major damage. The suspect was taken into custody, then treated and released at Cottage Hospital for a minor injury. He is identified as Michael Jon Helman, age 47. He was booked at Count Jail for evading arrest amounting to a felony; two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for attempting to run over the officers; felony resisting arrest; possession of cocaine; and parole violation. He is held without bail. Other charges may be pending; the suspect’s photo is being withheld pending further investigation.

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