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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/20/2007. A local man is in custody after taking brief possession of a $100,000 Range Rover. The owner, a 28-year-old resident of Alston Road, drove to Ablitt’s Dry Cleaners at 14 W. Gutierrez Street to drop off laundry. The Range Rover was so new it still had the dealer’s paper plates. The owner left the engine running, went inside the business, and turned his back to his unattended vehicle. Moments later, the owner turned to see his vehicle being driven away by an unknown person. Police dispatch was notified and a BOL (Be on the Lookout) issued. Lt. Doug Kresky was in the area, and checked south on Castillo Street from Haley. He spotted the vehicle parked unattended at the Chevron gas station convenience store at Castillo and Montecito Street. He confirmed it was the same vehicle complete with tinted windows and custom wheels. Moments later, a man walking out of the convenience store approached the Range Rover, car keys in hand. Lt. Kresky stepped forward to detain him. The suspect immediately tossed the car keys under the vehicle. He was arrested after a brief struggle. He is identified as Casey Lee Wadsworth, age 42, a resident of the Salvation Army shelter at 423 Chapala Street. Found inside Wadsworth’s pocket was the vehicle’s registration papers. Wadsworth was booked at County Jail for auto theft, and for a violation of probation charge stemming from a prior auto theft conviction. Meanwhile, the owner of the Range Rover learned a painful lesson to never leave a vehicle unattended with the engine running.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/17/2007. Last night’s stabbing has resulted in one death and two injuries. Last night at 10:41 p.m. police responded to a fight at 700 San Pascual Street. Witnesses report that the three victims were walking on San Pascual near Ortega Street. One victim was pushing a bicycle. A larger group of young men approached, armed with clubs and knives. The large group confronted the three victims, shouting gang slogans. The victims were chased down one-by-one and attacked. The exact nature of the injures are still being determined; however, all three victims received stab wounds. The first officers on scene provided emergency first aid for the most critically injured victim until paramedics arrived. All three were transported to Cottage Hospital. The most critically injured victim has died from his injuries. He is identified as Lorenzo Valentin Carachure, age 16. His next of kin has been notified. A 19-year-old victim has been hospitalized in good condition and a 17-year-old victim was treated and released. All three victims are either active gang members or gang associates.

Police believe this case is gang related. Detectives worked through the night to: Gather evidence, canvass the neighborhood, interview witnesses, and speak with family members. No arrests have been made at this point. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Gary Siegel at 897-2338, or the Watch Commander at 897-2355.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/10/2007. Today at 1:00 p.m. James Edward Harris, age 40, was arrested for six counts of shoplift burglary. He was taken into custody without incident at his residence on Cottage Grove. Since last January, Detectives have been trying to identify the suspect believed to have committed shoplift burglary throughout the downtown area. Shoplift burglary is defined as entering a store with the intent to commit theft. This suspect was widely known by downtown store employees as “Cornrows” due to his suspicious behavior and distinctive hair style. Based on the description and other leads, detectives were able to establish his identity.

Harris has been arrested for committing two counts of theft from each of the following businesses: Sur la Table at 821 State Street, Anchor Blue at 820 State Street, and Victoria’s Secret in the Paseo Nuevo Mall. Property stolen includes expensive French cooking pots, jeans, perfume, and intimate apparel. He is also charged with violation of his parole terms, which stem from theft and narcotics convictions. Anyone with additional information on James Harris’ activities is urged to contact Detective Mark Suarez at 897-2309.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/9/2007. On 7/6/07 at 5:30 p.m. a local homeless man began attacking people in the 800 block of State Street for no apparent reason. He pushed a teenaged girl off her bicycle causing her and her boyfriend to run for their safety. He began chasing other pedestrians, striking several with newspapers he held in his hands. A citizen ran into Rite Aid to avoid him and call 911. Police arrested James Aloysius Nolan, age 60, for disturbing the peace.

On 7/6/07 at 5:00 p.m. a 77-year-old man was riding his motorized wheelchair at 1000 Chapala Street, near the MTD station. For no apparent reason, Joseph Abraham Aguilar, a 43-year-old transient approached from behind shouting obscenities. Aguilar attacked the victim, striking him several times in the head and upper body. The frail victim, who rides with an American flag perched on his wheelchair, used the flag standard to fend off his attacker. Two women motorists witnessed the attack, but did not intervene out of fear the suspect would attack them. Police located Aguilar around the corner on State Street and arrested him for battery, elder abuse, and violation of probation.

On 7/6/07 at 5:00 p.m. police responded to the 1st block of West Haley on a call of a man creating a disturbance. For unknown reasons, John Alexander McAulay, a 39-year-old transient was banging on the windows of the Brew House with his fists. The owner confronted him and told him to leave. McAulay walked across the street and began drinking from an oversized can of beer. According to witnesses, McAulay threw the half-full beer at a passing motorist. The throw sailed high and barely missed the vehicle. Still agitated, McAulay forcefully knocked over a parked motorcycle, causing several hundred dollars in damage to the fairing and travel cases. McAulay began punching the windows of a parked BMW sedan. Unable to damage the windows, he pulled an iron railroad spike from his backpack. He pounded on the windows several more times but was still unable to break the glass. He turned and hurled the spike at a passing vehicle. The projectile narrowly missed, sailing just above the hood-line with such force that it struck a building on the far side of the street. McAulay retrieved the spike and ran toward Chapala Street, pausing to pick up a metal trashcan lid. He used the lid to smash out two windows to a parked Ford Escort. Police arrived and took McAulay into custody without a fight. McAulay was booked for felony vandalism and throwing objects at moving vehicles with the likelihood of causing injury.

On 7/7/07 at 5:15 p.m. police responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex in the 500 block of W. Canon Perdido Street. Police dispatch indicated a history of drug use at the particular apartment that made the call. Police arrived to see a man matching the suspect description driving away in a 1999 red Ford Escort. Police stopped and arrested Victor Eddie Visueta, age 37, of Santa Barbara for driving under the influence of Heroin and for driving while being a drug addict.

On 7/7/07 at 9:00 p.m. police responded to a disturbance at the Metro 4 Theater at 618 State Street. A Tustin man was in town visiting with friends when they decided to see the movie “Live Free or Die Hard.” Mid movie, the man went to the lobby to use the restroom. He saw the suspect, Catarino Valenzuela, age 38, of Santa Barbara go into the bathroom while smoking. The victim reported the smoking infraction to theater employees. Valenzuela came out and discovered that he had been reported. He confronted the victim, made an obscenity laced threat, and went into the same theater the victim had come from. The victim was afraid to go back in the theater so he called police. A police officer arrived just as the movie was over and the crowd was letting out. The victim pointed out Valenzuela to police. Valenzuela was arrested for disturbing the peace, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a pipe used for smoking crystal methamphetamine.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/6/2007. Two men are in custody for possession and attempting to sell counterfeit power tools. Yesterday (7/5/07) at 11:50 a.m. police responded to the San Roque neighborhood of 300 Piedmont Road on a call of suspicious men selling power tools from a vehicle. Police contacted two men associated with a 1997 Honda Accord. Police noticed there were two nearby houses undergoing major construction. A construction foreman told police that one of the men, Ever Argueta, age 31 was offering to sell a construction grade Hitachi Demolition Impact Hammer for $350. The foreman knew the tools’ list price is $1,000. The foreman was suspicious that the tool was stolen. Argueta said the tool was not stolen. He showed police three expensive power tools for sale: Two Hitachi demolition hammers and a Bosch construction grade impact drill that retails for $700. The second man, Pablo Alfaro Munoz, age 25, said he drove Argueta and the tools up from Los Angeles for $60. Robert Good, an employee of Buena Tool Company responded to assist. He identified the tools as counterfeits. Officer Kasi Beutel arrested the two men for possession of counterfeit tools (copy write infringement.) In the suspect vehicle was a check written by a local tile company. Police contacted the tile business owner who said that last month, a man showed up at their jobsite in Buellton, and sold them two power tools for $350. The tools broke the next day. They too are believed to be counterfeit. Ever Argueta and Pablo Munoz were booked for possession of counterfeit property in violation of copy write laws. SBPD is issuing a warning that counterfeit property including: Watches, purses, clothing, and electronics are being offered for sale, often right out of the trunks of vehicles. Counterfeit power tools are of poor quality, break easily, and can endanger the user. Suspicious persons selling property on the streets should be reported to the police.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/5/2007. In keeping with tradition, last night’s fireworks show was peacefully enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors. For most, problems were limited to scarce parking and snarled traffic following the show. However, several incidents kept police very busy. Five people were arrested for DUI; two were involved in traffic accidents. Victoria Alatorrie, age 41, from Los Angeles was visiting with a girlfriend. Her girlfriend had been drinking heavily and handed Alatorrie the car keys. Problem was, Alatorrie does not have a drivers license and had been drinking heavily too. Alatorrie only made it a block and a half before sideswiping her friend’s Acura into a parked Honda and a BMW. The Acura suffered major damage, the Honda minor, and the BMW moderate. Alatorrie fled the scene was but was located a block and a half away. She was arrested for DUI, being unlicensed, and hit and run. Also on July 4th, Gayle Douglas Mitchell, age 67, a transient, drove his 1984 Ford Bronco into a parked Toyota pickup. As he backed up to free himself he struck a moving Honda Accord. He pulled forward and hit the pickup again. He backed up, went forward again and this time hit a parked Toyota Camry. He then backed up and knocked over a “no parking” sign. Police arrived and arrested Mitchell for DUI, driving on a suspended license, and a warrant stemming from a prior DUI conviction.

Of note were a handful of minor gang skirmishes that occurred just after the beginning and just after the conclusion of the fireworks show. Before the show began, Police contacted numerous gang members amongst the crowd gathered along Cabrillo Blvd. Some gang members were encouraged to move along. Others met, either by accident or design, at the intersection of State Street and Cabrillo Blvd. Minutes after the fireworks began, spectators witnessed gang members engage in a few one-on-one fist fights. The fighting only lasted seconds and the participants quickly melted into the crowd. Police arrived and calm was restored. At the conclusion of the show, police began escorting thousands of spectators up State Street. Gang members were sprinkled amongst the crowd, with rivals remaining on opposite sides of the street. A few more one-on-fistfights were reported at the 200 block State Street. Numerous police offices arrived and the rival gangs retreated to their respective territories. Seven gang members or associates were arrested: Octavio Marin age 19 for fighting; Rodolpho Garcia age 20 for possession of alcohol, resisting arrest and a $5,000 warrant; and five juveniles aged: three 17-year-olds, a 14-year-old, and a 13-year-old. Charges include: Challenging to fight, fighting in public, violation of probation, and committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang. There were no reports of injury or use of weapons.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 6/28/2007 – Daniel Ortiz, age 22, was arrested shortly before 5:00 p.m. at his residence in the 300 block of S. Soledad Street. He surrendered to police by stepping outside his residence. This followed an approximately three-hour stand-off in which he remained locked inside of his residence. No one was injured during the arrest. However, Ortiz did have an apparent self-inflicted slash wound to his wrist. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and Fire Rescue. The injury was minor, but as a precaution he was transported under guard to Cottage Hospital for evaluation and discharge. Although Ortiz voluntarily surrendered, officers at the scene described his actions as only semi-compliant. For several seconds he stood just outside his doorway with his hand held behind his back as though holding or reaching for a weapon.

Ortiz was charged with violation of probation. His probation terms stemmed from a prior conviction for possession of an illegal weapon. Two days ago, police learned of his involvement in a battery incident and unrelated vandalism incident. Sources told police that Ortiz had armed himself with a handgun, and threatened to use violence to avoid arrest. Based on this new information, Ortiz’s probation officer ordered that he be arrested.

Today at 2:00 p.m., police learned that Ortiz was at his residence on Soledad St. Officers arrived with the intention of isolating him in the residence until he could be safely taken into custody. Ortiz discovered the police presence and shouted that he would not surrender. The belief that he was armed and dangerous coupled with the knowledge that he is a gang member prompted a SWAT Team response, aided by members of the Crisis Negotiations Response Team (CNRT.) The SB Sheriff’s Department armored SWAT vehicle responded to assist as needed. Ultimately, no force was needed to take Ortiz into custody, and no one was injured. Officers searched his residence and found a replica handgun. After being medical discharged from Cottage Hospital, Ortiz was booked at County Jail for violation of probation, without bail.