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Officers’ Quick Response Leads to Three Arrests

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/19/2006 – On April 17th at 9:00 p.m., a 58-year-old man was walking home from the grocery store. As he rounded the corner of Quinientos and Alisos Street, he was confronted by first one, then two, and then three young men. Suspect #1 blocked his path and demanded cash. The victim halted in his tracks and hesitated. Suspect #2 approached, wearing a bandana over his lower face. Suspect #2 knocked the victim to the ground and stood menacing over him. Suspect #2 pointed a small caliber handgun directly at the victim’s face, again demanding cash. Suspect #3 stood across the street, and acted as a look-out. Fearing for his life, the victim took his wallet out of his pant’s pocket. Suspects #1 and #2 grabbed for it, and there was a brief three-way struggle. In the process, the cash became exposed, and the suspects took it. The stolen money amounted to $58. Cash in hand, the suspects fled on foot. Very shook up, the victim went to the nearby Rite Aid store on Milpas Street and called police. Two minutes later Officer James Fuller spotted the three suspects walking on Voluntario Street, a few blocks from the crime scene. Realizing he was contacting potentially armed and dangerous suspects, he ordered the suspects to halt at gunpoint. Two suspects ran, but Officer Fuller tackled the third at the scene. A few minutes later Sergeant Dan McGrew spotted a second suspect in the 1100 block of East Carpinteria St. He was arrested without incident. They are believed to be suspects #1 and #3, and are ages 16 and 17 years. Detectives were summoned to identify and locate the third suspect. Potential witnesses were questioned and residences were searched. Yesterday at 9:00 a.m., police spotted the third suspect as a passenger in a car driving on Rhoades Ave. The car was stopped at the Shell Station at Hollister and Walnut Ave, and he was arrested without incident. He is identified as Kevin Kelley, age 18. He is believed to be Suspect #2. All three suspects were booked for armed robbery. Kelley was also booked for conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The cash and the gun have not been recovered. Due to the ongoing investigation, no suspect photos will be released at this time.

Power Pole Twice Targeted by Drunk Driver

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/18/2006 – Yesterday, 04/17/06, at 4:30 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of APS regarding a major traffic collision near Cleveland Elementary School. Police located a single vehicle collision involving an Infiniti SUV that crashed into an Edison power-pole. The investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, Isabelle Magness age 40, had been driving down APS. As she entered a curve she lost control and struck the power-pole head-on. The impact shattered the sturdy utility pole at its base, and it fell blocking both lanes of APS. Based on the physical and tire skid evidence, the vehicle’s accelerator remained floored after impact. With the SUV pinned against the power-pole, the front tires spun against the pavement until flattened. Magness displayed symptoms of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or prescription medications. She was treated for a minor injury at Cottage Hospital, and then booked at County Jail for driving under the influence and for probation violation. The downed power-pole caused a power outage to many local residents. It took Edison crews several hours to clear the street and restore power. Ironically, back in September 2005, Magness had been involved in another single-vehicle traffic accident on the same street, and into the very same power-pole. Just like in this case, she had been arrested for driving under the influence.

Followed and Attacked Her at Ortega Park

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/18/2006 – This morning at 12:30 a.m., a 25-year-old woman was walking home from a friends’ house on the lower Eastside.  As she reached Milpas and Montecito Street, she was aware of a man following her.  She continued on her way and the man drew closer.  She cautiously paused near bright lights in the 500 block of Milpas Street.  The man continued walking past her, and she felt safer.  She waited a minute, and then changed direction, walking westbound on Cota from Milpas St.  As she reached the relative isolation of Santa Barbara Jr. High, she was alarmed to realize the man was again following her, now very closely.  Just a few blocks from home, the woman ran through Ortega Park, hoping to put distance between herself and the suspect.  The suspect pursued her, and was gaining on her.  The woman realized she could not outrun the suspect, but remembered that Ortega Park has a payphone.  As the woman desperately dialed 911, the suspect was upon her.  He swept her away from the payphone, up against the building.  Her head struck against the wall.  The phone receiver swung by the cord below the phone booth, but the call was completed.  Police Dispatch answered the 911 call to hear the woman screaming in the background.  911 phone calls display the location the call was made from, and police were dispatched to the park.  The woman struggled against the man, and momentarily pushed him away.  Just then, a good-Samaritan arrived on-scene.  He had been walking home when he noticed the suspect closely following the woman.  Believing something may be amiss, he followed at a distance.  He heard the screaming and arrived to assist.  The suspect took notice of this man, and took off running through the park.  The good-Samaritan stayed with the woman and helped provide police with the suspect’s description.  Responding police located the suspect a few blocks away on Milpas Street.  He is identified as Jose Julian Palmas, age 28.  Palmas was booked at County Jail for attempted rape and false imprisonment.  His bail is $100,000.