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Appetite Proves His Undoing

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 9/26/2006 - On Sunday, September 24th, a couple living in the upper Eastside neighborhood of Scenic Drive returned from a three day trip.  They discovered their house broken into.  A locked balcony door had been pried open with a crowbar.  The suspect took speakers, DVD movies, and a collection of 100 music CDs.  Many of the CDs were custom downloaded with the owner’s favorite tunes.  In an unusual twist, the suspect rummaged through kitchen drawers and cabinets.  The suspect even helped himself to leftover pizza in the refrigerator, placing it on a plate and heating it in the microwave oven.  Other food items were removed from the refrigerator, inspected, and left on the kitchen counter.  In the course of investigating the burglary, police recovered a fingerprint from the bottom of the plate used to heat the pizza.  Meanwhile, also on Sunday, UCPD officers responded to a disturbance call on Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista.  They contacted Donald Jack Andrick, age 36 for trespassing and refusing to leave.  The officers arrested Andrick for a warrant charging violation of parole.  In Andrick’s possession was a backpack full of music CDs.  Written on some of the CDs was the name of the victim living on Scenic Drive.  UCPD contacted the owner, who confirmed the property was stolen in the theft.  A Crime Lab technician with the Santa Barbara Police Department matched Andrick’s fingerprint to the one recovered from the pizza plate.  Clearly, Andrick’s appetite proved his undoing.  Yesterday, 9/25/06, Andrick received the Scenic Drive residential burglary.  The bail for this violation is $50,000.  A large number of stolen CDs were returned to the owner.  This case reflects great teamwork between UCPD and SBPD.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/21/2006 – 9/21/06. Today at 9:45 a.m., a masked gunman robbed the Mid State Bank at 2222 Bath Street. The lone male suspect entered the bank through the back door while armed with a handgun. He confronted a teller at gun-point and demanded cash. He escaped out the back doors, and through the next-door Best Western Encina Lodge and Suites. A witness last saw the suspect fleeing toward De La Vina Street. No one was injured in the robbery. The suspect is described as a white male, in his late 50s or older, balding, with short grey hair. He is clean shaven, but has an ‘ashy’ unhealthy skin complexion. He stands about 5-7 in height, with a slender to medium build. He covered his face with a nylon stocking mask. He wore a black baseball cap, a green long sleeved shirt, and denim pants. The witness said the suspect took off his outer green shirt, and was wearing a white colored shirt underneath. The suspect received an undisclosed amount of cash. He stuffed the money in his pockets and fled. Initially, it was believed that the suspect had received dye-packs, but this was not the case. The suspect did not receive dye-packs.

The case is being jointly investigated by SBPD detectives and the FBI. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Chad Hunt or the Watch Commander at 897-2355. Attached is a bank surveillance photo of the suspect taken during the robbery.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 9/18/2006 - 9/18/06.  This morning at 2:55 a.m., officers responded to a hot-prowl burglary to a mobile home residence at 1210 Cacique Street.  A very frightened 56-year-old woman reported that an armed intruder had just fled.  She lives with her elderly father, and described herself as a heavy sleeper.  She was awakened by the presence of a man at her bedside.  He was armed with a large knife.  The suspect placed his arm around her neck and held the knife to her throat.  He threatened to stab her if she screamed.  Fearing for her life, the woman grabbed the knife and struggled to pull the blade away from her throat.  The suspect struggled with her.  The woman’s elderly father woke up and turned on a light.  The light startled the suspect, who momentarily dropped the knife.  As he bent down to pick it up, she kicked him several times from behind.  He bumped his head against the dresser, losing his hat in the process.  The woman screamed, and the intruder fled, leaving his hat and the knife behind.  Police commenced to check the neighborhood, shining spot lights into darkened recesses.  Meanwhile, as police spot lights swept through his mobile home park at 21 S. Canada Street, a man called police dispatch with a bizarre story.  Arturo Lopez, age 23, called to say another man was trying to recruit him to commit burglaries.  Officers contacted him at his door.  He gave a rambling statement that a stranger had enticed him to break into homes.  He made incriminating statements that placed him at the scene and in possession of the knife.  Lopez’s relatives identified the hat recovered at the scene as belonging to Lopez.  He was booked for residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and violation of probation.

Shooter’s Companion Located

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/14/2006 – 9/14/06.  Progress continues in the investigation of the homicide of Frank Tacadena, age 60.  Last night, detectives served a search warrant at the residence of John Manuel Lopez, who lives in the apartment complex at 427 W. Islay Street.  Evidence related to this investigation was seized.  Lopez is believed to have accompanied the suspect just before and during the fatal confrontation.  Detectives worked through the night to track Lopez’s whereabouts.  The efforts have paid off: Lopez and his girlfriend Sonja Salazar have been located.  They were detained after officers from an out-of-county police agency found them driving the White Isuzu SUV.  They currently are being questioned by SBPD homicide detectives.

The autopsy for Frank Tacadena was conducted this morning.  The findings are that he died from a small caliber gunshot wound to his throat that severed two major arteries.  At this point, the gunman and firearm have not been located.  Further information will be released as available.

Residents Warned to Safeguard their Mail

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 9/13/2006 - One growing crime trend over the last few years has been the prolific amount of mail stolen from mailboxes. This problem is directly linked to incidents of forgery, stolen credit card use, and identity theft. SBPD and other local law enforcement agencies are in solidarity to combat this crime problem. An example follows: On 8/7/06, Patricia Lopez Birdsall, age 26 was arrested by SBPD in connection with four counts of check theft and forgery. She was suspected of raiding local mailboxes for checks and anything that could be converted to cash. She was booked and then released from jail with a pending court date. Meanwhile, additional evidence of her criminal activity mounted up. She was linked to numerous other cases of check theft and forgery. These cases were not limited to the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara Police Department: Mail theft and check forgery cases were hitting desks at both the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department and Lompoc Police Department. In short, Birdsall was suspected of being a one-woman crime spree. Unfortunately, she remained mobile and could not be pinned to a specific residence.

A surprising break came yesterday when Birdsall appeared in court on the charges stemming from her arrest last month. Detective Chris Dallenbach of the SBSO Solvang Station arrested her for more than sixty (60) counts of check forgery. Forged checks turned up at popular restaurants and grocery stores throughout the county. She has been linked to mail theft in areas including: Montecito, the Riviera, and upper San Roque. Subsequent to this arrest, the SBPD Special Investigations Detail arrested her for several more forgery counts that occurred in the City.

Detectives from all local agencies agree that residents need to safeguard their mail. The use of a locking U.S. Postmaster approved mailbox is recommended to prevent mail and identity theft. Businesses who accept checks are urged to obtain an inked thumbprint to verify identity and deter would-be check forgers. Prevention combined with professional law enforcement can turn the mail theft trend around.

Armed Suspect at Large

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/13/2006 – 9/13/06.  Today at 6:00 p.m., police responded to a call of a shooting victim at 200 W. Islay St.  Officers found a man with a gunshot wound to his neck, accompanied by his distraught wife.  Officers determined that the shooting occurred at or near an apartment complex at 427 W. Islay Street.  The motive and circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.  Detectives say the victim and his wife drove into the complex and were approached by the suspect.  The victim was standing outside his vehicle when he was shot.  He got back in his vehicle and drove two blocks before collapsing behind the wheel.  Two doctors happened upon the scene and attempted emergency field treatment.  The victim arrived at Cottage Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 6:43 p.m.  Police established a perimeter around 427 W. Islay Street until the SWAT Team assembled.  At 10:45 p.m., the SWAT Team entered the apartment and determined the suspect had fled the area.

The victim has been identified as Frank Tacadena, age 60.  Wanted for questioning in this homicide is John Manuel Lopez, age 25.  He is believed to be in the company of his girlfriend, Sonja Salazar, age 29.  She drives a white Isuzu SUV, license 5FWM174.  Anyone with information about his case is urged to contact Detective Gary Siegel or the Watch Commander at 897-2355.

John Manuel Lopez, age 25, is wanted by the Santa Barbara Police.

Known to Frequent Cottage Hospital Area

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/12/2006 – 9/12/06. This morning at 8:15 a.m., Officer Robles responded to Romaine Drive in the Samarkand neighborhood on a ‘routine’ call of an illegal camper. A neighbor reported a man setting up an impromptu campsite under a battered tarp. As Officer Robles approached, he saw a man holding a knife in his hand. The suspect dropped the knife, but disregarded a command to step away. The suspect picked up the knife and advanced toward the officer. The cautious officer stepped back and ordered the suspect to halt. The suspect paused a moment, turned, and fled headfirst into the underbrush. He escaped by tunneling through the foliage toward Calle Real. The suspect has been identified as David Bogard, age 36, currently homeless. Bogard is wanted for parole violation, resisting arrest, and possession of an illegal knife. Bogard is a longtime Santa Barbara resident. He is believed to frequent the neighborhoods surrounding Cottage Hospital. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Bogard’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Watch Commander at 897-2355.

David Bogard, age 36

Well Wishers Organize Fund to Assist Family

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/7/2006 – Jake Boysel, the 12-year-old boy struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle has been pronounced dead.  The collision occurred yesterday morning at 7:26 a.m. as the 7th grader was riding to La Colina Junior High School.  The accident scene was in the 3200 block of Calle Real, near the intersection of Hwy 154.  The vehicle that struck Boysel was a 1997 Ford Expedition driven by Ernesto Botello, age 24.  Both the bicycle and the SUV were traveling eastbound on Calle Real, which has a 40 mph speed limit.  Reportedly, Botello did not see Boysel prior to impact.  He struck the bicyclist from behind.  Boysel received critical injuries from both the initial impact and from being flung to the pavement.  He was admitted to Cottage Hospital while in a coma.  He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead earlier today.

The investigation of the circumstances leading up to the collision is continuing.  Traffic Supervisor Jim Pfleging states that his goal is to establish the facts of the case, and then present them to the District Attorney.  He is neither expecting nor ruling out the possibility of criminal charges being filed against Botello.

Due to tremendous public response, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust has established a fund to assist Boysel’s family.  Per David R. Hall, Senior Relationship Manager, donations to the Jake Boysel Fund can be made at any SBBT branch, or their main office, 20 E. Carrillo St.

Emphasis on Education and Enforcement

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/6/2006 – The Santa Barbara Police Department is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant awarded by the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, known as ABC. The grant award amount is $123,200. These funds will be used to accomplish the following goals:

• Increase education by working closely with businesses licensed to sell alcohol. This includes retail merchants, nightclubs, and wholesalers. A proven successful education component called Responsible Beverage Service will be provided to liquor establishment employees free of charge.
• Use of undercover operations to verify compliance with the law. These operations include: Decoy Program, (a minor working undercover attempts to purchase alcohol); Shoulder Tap (a minor working undercover asks a private citizen to purchase alcohol on their behalf); and Trap Door, (undercover police officers acting as nightclub door security check for false identification.)
• Increase enforcement of violations including: Minor in possession of alcohol, public intoxication, DUI enforcement, and drinking in vehicles. Experience shows a highly disproportionate amount of crime involves suspects or victims who are intoxicated.

Reasons SBPD received the grant include: Per capita statewide, SBPD has one of the highest rates of DUI arrests, one of the highest rates of intoxicated people killed by trains, and a high number of people injured or killed in DUI collisions. Education and enforcement actions will commence later this month, September 2006. In summary, SBPD wants to increase public safety by alerting the public to the hazards of irresponsible alcohol use. For further information contact the Nightlife Enforcement Team at 897-2431.

Driver Reportedly Did Not See Victim

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/6/2006 – 9/6/06. A 12-year-old boy is clinging to life after being struck from behind while riding his bicycle to school. The accident occurred at 4200 Calle Real, near the intersection of Hwy 154. Jake Boysel, who is a 7th grade student at La Colina Junior High school was riding eastbound on Calle Real. He rode a Trek mountain bicycle, and was wearing a helmet and a school backpack. Meanwhile, Ernesto Botello, age 24, left his residence to go to work. He drove eastbound on Calle Real in his black Ford Expedition. Approximately 300 feet prior to Hwy 154, Botello rear ended the bicyclist. The speed limit at the accident scene is 40 mph. The impact occurred while Boysel was riding in or very near the marked bicycle lane. The impact literally broke the bicycle frame in half. Bicycle pieces were scattered in a 100 foot radius. Boysel’s backpack became lodged in the Expedition’s grill. The initial impact dislodged Boysel’s helmet and knocked him out of his backpack. He was thrown headfirst to the pavement without his protective helmet. He was admitted to Cottage Hospital in extremely critical condition. He suffered major injuries to his head and internal organs. His parents have been at his bedside, as has the principal of La Colina Junior High. Botello stopped at the scene and has cooperated with the investigation. There were no visible signs that he was driving while impaired. He volunteered a blood sample to prove this fact. A witness provided valuable information for the investigation. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. Reportedly, Botello did not see Boysel prior to impact. The accident scene (Calle Real between Hwy 154 and El Sueno Road) will be closed tomorrow between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. to conduct a reenactment of the accident. A police officer will drive Botello’s vehicle to determine the visibility and extent of sun glare present at the precise moment the collision occurred.

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