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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/13/2007 – 4/13/07.  The reality of crime in our community means that SBPD officers arrest criminal suspects 365 days a year.  Yet, some days stand out due to the number or variety of arrest situations officers must handle.  On 4/11/07 at 7:45 p.m., a woman parked in front of her residence in the 300 block of South Canada Street to unload groceries.  As she walked out her house to get a second load, she saw three young men scurrying away from her car.  One suspect had the woman’s backpack casually draped over his shoulder and another clutched her wallet.  The wallet contained $700 in cash including a few 100 dollar bills.  The three suspects ignored her calls to stop.  As she followed them in her car the three suspects took off running and disappeared.  The woman went home and told her husband.  They decided to look for the suspects.  At 9:15 p.m. the woman spotted the three suspects walking in the neighborhood.  The husband confronted them and demanded the property be returned.  The suspects refused and a minor scuffle ensued.  The husband detained one suspect at the scene and the other two fled.  Police caught the renegade pair a block away, aided by the fact that the suspects were intoxicated.  One of the suspects had a $100 bill in his pocket, but the other property was not recovered.  Arrested were: Two 17-year-olds for grand theft, and Edgar Reyna, age 18 for violation of probation.

On 4/12/07 at 2:00 a.m. police learned that Brent McColley, age 29, had a no-bail warrant issued out of San Luis Obispo County.  Police tracked McColley to the Sunset Hotel at 3504 State Street.  Sure enough, McColley was registered as a guest.  Police knocked at the door with no answer.  After a few minutes of knocking and waiting, police entered with a pass-key.  McColley was found wide-awake in bed.  He explained that he knew he had a warrant and hoped the police would leave if he didn’t answer the door.

On 4/12/07, Thomas David Allan, age 37 was arrested for shoplift-burglary at Sears Store, 3845 State Street.  Security stopped him leaving with a snappy sport jacket and a dress shirt.  Allan, who is homeless, explained that he needed some nice clothes for a job interview.

On 4/12/07 Guadalupe Gallegos, age 36 was arrested after making threats to two former roommates.  The day before (4/11/07), the roommates complained to police that Gallegos had threatened them on several occasions.  An officer contacted Gallegos with the intent of warning her to stop.  Gallegos denied any wrong doing.  As soon as police left, Gallegos called to make more threats.  The roommates called police again.  This time Gallegos was arrested for parole violation.

On 4/12/07 police learned that Dennis Gibbons, age 50 was wanted for parole violation for testing positive for cocaine use.  Police arrested Gibbons at his residence in the 1200 block of Cacique Street without incident.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/12/2007 – For years the 400 to 600 blocks of East Yanonali Street has been designated as the Labor Line, a place where workers seeking casual labor could wait for an opportunity to work.  On any given day, one hundred or more men would gather along the three block stretch, ostensibly waiting to be picked up by people seeking inexpensive, reliable labor.  SBPD has long known that drug dealers mingled with the workers, hoping to make money; not by the sweat of their brow, but by engaging in street level drug dealing.  In turn, the dealers attract a seedy cadre of drug users plying the neighborhood looking to make quick hand-to-hand drug deals.  In the past, SBPD has targeted the labor line drug problem with one or two day operations designed to impact dealers and warn sellers.  Progress was made, but the problem proved too entrenched for short-term fixes.

The problem of drug use is not a victimless crime: Many businesses, residents, and staff from two area homeless shelters have complained for years about drug dealing, fights, theft, open prostitution, and intoxicated people using public streets as their personal bathroom.  In particular, the proximity to homeless shelters vexes people struggling with addictions problems of their own.

In February, Police Chief Cam Sanchez directed that a multi-pronged effort be levied against Labor Line drug dealing and other associated crimes.  The effort included the Tactical Patrol Force, Narcotics Detail, and patrol officers.  Enforcement included use of undercover officers, surveillance, and directed patrol operations.  The mission was to “Eradicate drug dealing at or near the Labor Line.”  The problem proved to be more entrenched than first imagined: With surprising ease, officers watched hand-to-hand drug transactions and arrested the dealers and customers alike.  Detectives discovered that the area had become more of an open-air drug bazaar than a de facto Labor Line.  Word definitely did not seem to get out as operations conducted on subsequent days resulted in an ever increasing number of arrests.  The principal drugs of choice were crack cocaine and cocaine powder, with a little crystal meth thrown in.  Gradually, stubbornly the presence of drug dealers receded from the area.  After seven weeks, the results of the operations include 56 arrests:  44 people arrested on felony charges and 14 for misdemeanors.  Arrests charges include 15 for sales of cocaine, 14 for possession of cocaine, 11 for possession of drug paraphernalia, 10 for loitering in an area for the purpose of engaging in drug activity, 5 for parole and 4 for probation violations.  (Note that some arrestees had multiple charges.)  Several of the drug dealers were criminally deported felons who were not supposed to have returned to the U.S.  About half of the buyers listed their address as homeless.  The Labor Line operation resulted in several spin-off investigations including: The recent closure of a prostitution ring operating on the Eastside, maintaining a house for narcotics use, and weapons violations.

Despite this effort, SBPD holds no illusions about open drug dealing being permanently eradicated from the greater Labor Line area.  SBPD does intend to keep up the pressure with the goal of improving the long term public safety of the region.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/11/2007.  A local woman is sadder but wiser after falling victim to a scam perpetrated by means of the Internet.  Unfortunately, the same scam in various forms has been attempted throughout Santa Barbara, and, indeed the entire U.S.A.  Others have fallen prey to a similar ploy.  In this case, it all began when the victim, a 19-year-old Isla Vista resident, used ‘Craig’s List’ to post a roommate wanted advertisement.  Craig’s List is a popular Internet site for people buying, selling, trading, or seeking just about anything.  The victim’s advertisement was answered by an unknown person who identified themself as a 25-year-old British woman named “Casey Brown”, currently living in the Republic of Benin, Africa.  The victim and ‘Brown’ corresponded by E-Mail, and made a verbal agreement for ‘Brown’ to share the apartment.  ‘Brown’ then introduced the victim to a third person who sent rent payment in advance to secure the apartment.  The victim then received four cashier’s checks, each in the amount of $950.  The victim was then told (by E-Mail) that instead of one check, four checks were sent by mistake.  The victim was instructed to deposit the checks, withhold a month’s rent ($680) and wire the balance by means of Western Union to the city of Cotonou, Republic of Benin.  The victim dutifully did as told, depositing the checks and wiring $3,120 out of her own account to the address in Benin.  All seemed well and good for a few days until the victim’s bank notified her that the money orders were counterfeit.  In short, the victim was swindled out of the full $3,120.

A common variation on this scam involves someone from another state or country buying a product or services offered for sale on Craig’s list or other Internet postings.  Just like in this case, the person overpays with counterfeit checks, and instructs the victim to wire the balance.  The nature of Western Union wire transfers makes them nearly impossible to trace.  SBPD warns the public not to send money or a product until certain that the check payment is genuine.  Remember: People from all over the world can and do misidentify themselves for financial gain.  In general, theft cases leading to foreign countries are not investigated, and there is no hope for financial recovery.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/9/2007 – SBPD is issuing a be-on-the-lookout for a threesome who targeted an elderly San Roque neighborhood resident.  On 4/5/07 at 1:30 p.m., a 90-year-old woman who lives independently was in the front yard of her Capri Drive residence.  An unfamiliar vehicle pulled into the driveway.  A man and woman got out of the vehicle and greeted her very familiarly.  They were accompanied by a heavy-set boy who looked to be about 12-years-old.  The elderly victim did not know these people, but thought that “perhaps old age was playing tricks on her” and she merely forgot how she knew them.  After a few minutes of lively conversation the man suddenly said he wasn’t feeling well and needed to use the bathroom.  The victim gave him permission to enter and was going to follow him inside.  Instead, she was guided away by the female suspect and distracted with conversation.  When the victim became concerned about how long the man was taking, the female suspect made excuses about him not feeling well.  The man came back outside, produced a $100 bill, and asked the victim if she could make change.  The victim said she did not keep that amount of money on hand.  The suspects promptly got in their vehicle and drove away.  The victim then discovered a platinum and diamond ring was missing from inside her residence.  SBPD believes these suspects are scam artists who will target vulnerable people, especially the elderly.  The suspects are described as: A white female with blond hair, 5-0 in height, very heavy set, blond hair, wearing several gold chains, and having very bad looking black-colored teeth.  The male suspect is described as a white male, 5-11, medium build, wearing a black cap, jacket, and pants.  They drove a black sedan.  Anyone with suspect information is urged to contact Detective Mark Suarez or the Watch Commander at 897-2355.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/5/2007 –Yesterday (4/4/07) SBPD Narcotics detectives shut down a suspected prostitution operation operating out of an Eastside residential neighborhood.  Beginning a few weeks ago Narcotics Detectives, who pull double duty as Vice Detectives in the occasional prostitution case, learned of a man openly soliciting customers for paid prostitution services.  An undercover detective contacted the suspect and managed to gain his confidence.  The detective was guided to 1322 Pitos Street, where he paid $50 to be introduced to a woman.  A sex act was quickly negotiated for a price and the woman was arrested for soliciting prostitution.  She is identified as Rocio Guevara, age 25.  She is believed to frequently travel between Chicago, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara.  Her bail amount is $2,500.  The man, Abel Garcia Salazar, age 34 was arrested for pimping.  He is from Santa Barbara.  His bail amount is $25,000.  Detectives believe the prostitution operation had been operating for several months with different woman being rotated every month.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 4/2/2007 – 4/2/07.  A motorcyclist remains in critical condition following a harrowing collision on Carrillo Hill.  The accident occurred on Saturday, 3/31/07 at 6:02 p.m. at the intersection of Carrillo and Mountain View.  The involved vehicles were: A 2006 Ninja ZX10R motorcycle and a 2006 Ford Escape.  The Ninja motorcycle was ridden by Salahi Maziar, age 41; the Ford Escape by Jonathan Weiland, age 46.  The investigation included statements from at least three witnesses who all reported driving in a line of cars up Carrillo Hill at about the 40 mph speed limit.  They reported that the Ninja motorcycle was speeding and recklessly passing cars.  Witnesses reported that the motorcycle accelerated to between 70 and 80 mph.  Meanwhile, near the crest of Carrillo Hill, the Ford Escape was turning left from Mountain View Road down Carrillo Hill.  Evidence and statements indicate the Ford Escape was approximately three-quarters of the way through the turn when the accident occurred.  The motorcycle impacted the left rear side of the Ford Escape at high speed, exploding into hundreds of pieces.  Despite being hit by a much lighter vehicle, the impact caused major damage to the Ford Escape, activated the side airbags, and pushed it sideways by several feet.  A gathering crowd re-routed traffic until police, fire, and ambulance crews arrived.  Maziar was transported to Cottage Hospital in critical condition with numerous broken bones and severe internal trauma.  His life was probably spared by his wearing a helmet which, too, sustained major impact damage.  Carrillo Street was closed for several hours until the accident was fully investigated.  Maziar is a local resident who recently moved to Summerland.  One of Maziar’s acquaintances told police that he rode “recklessly” on several past occasions including doing “wheelies” in the neighborhood.  This acquaintance fruitlessly warned him to ride more responsibly.  Maziar remains at Cottage Hospital in critical, but stable condition.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 3/29/2007 – 3/29/07.  The body discovered two days ago near the Hwy 101 Carrillo Street on-ramp remains unidentified.  The body was discovered fully clothed, but had no identification or jewelry.  So far, SB Police and SB Sheriff’s detectives have not matched the body to any known missing person cases.  The best estimate for time of death is about thirty days.  Decomposition made recovering fingerprints impossible.  Likewise, the existence of tattoos or scars cannot be determined.  The coroner could find no visible cause of death.  Foul play is not suspected at this time; however, the investigation is not closed.

Public assistance is requested in determining the identity of the victim.  The description: A male; age 20-40 years; 5-2 in height; with a small to medium build; short brown hair with facial hair on the chin, very good teeth with a pronounced gap between the top two front teeth.  The clothing is: A dark T-shirt; baggy blue jeans with reinforced knees; black sweatpants cut off at the knee under the jeans; a black nylon belt with a chrome buckle that has the number “13” punched out of the metal; and white Nike tennis shoes.

Anyone with information on a possible match is urged to contact the Coroner’s Department at 681-4147.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 3/27/2007 – 3/27/07.  Today at 1:15 p.m., police received a call of a found body adjacent to the Hwy 101 Southbound On-ramp.  The body was in the heavy bush area between the freeway shoulder and the railroad property.  Due to heavy foliage and underbrush, police investigators had a difficult time gaining unobstructed access to the scene.  As a precaution, work crews used chain saws to clear a path for homicide detectives.  The body is badly decomposed.  It is that of a male, unknown age or further description.  The body has been lying exposed to the elements a substantial period of time, possibly thirty days.  The cause of death remains under investigation.  Police found evidence of heavy drug use in the immediate vicinity including syringes and paraphernalia used to prepare drugs for injection.  The general area is a known homeless encampment.  The body will be retained by the SB Coroner’s office pending identification and determining a cause of death.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 3/27/2007 – An elderly woman visiting from Valencia was the latest victim of a scam operation known as a “Pigeon Drop.”  Her loss was $7,000 in cash.  Although there are many subtle variations on this scam, in this case the suspects followed a near “textbook” Modus Operandi, or M.O.  On 3/19/07 at 11:30 a.m., the 69-year-old woman was walking alone at Chapala and Cota Streets.  Two well-dressed women in a newer red Chevy sedan pulled along side and contacted her.  They asked where “Lost and Found” could be found.  They showed her a black satchel, saying they found but had not opened it.  The victim was reluctant to become involved, but the suspects were very persistent.  The victim was convinced to open the satchel which appeared to contain $120,000 in cash.  There was no identification.  One suspect pretended to call ‘an attorney friend’ for advice.  The supposed advice was that the money must be the ill-gotten gains from a drug dealer.  The ‘attorney’ said they could keep the money only if they split it three-ways.  The victim was convinced she must first present $7,000 cash in “good-faith” money.  The victim was reluctant but the suspects persistently enticed her to join in the scheme.  The victim finally agreed and got into the car with the two suspects.  They drove the victim to an upper State Street bank, where the victim withdrew $5,000 cash.  They drove her to a downtown bank where the victim withdrew $1,000 and then $1,000 more.  The victim handed over the $7,000 in “good faith” money.  Instead of splitting the found money three ways, the victim was told to wait in the bank for the ‘attorney’ to contact her.  She waited 20 minutes before realizing she had been duped.  Suspect #1 is described as a white female, brown hair, early 40s, 5-7, 190 lbs, wearing rings on each finger.  Suspect #2 is described as a white female, shoulder length reddish-blond hair, late 30s, 5-3, 120 lbs.

In addition to the Pigeon Drop, other local scams include the Winning Lottery scam, Fake Gold Bar scam, and the Fake Jewelry scam.  SBPD advises the public to be extremely wary of strangers offering to share valuables.  Never, under any circumstances hand over cash or valuables as a sign of “good faith.”  If there is any doubt, contact the police.