Nov
14
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 11/13/07. Last night at 7:40 p.m., police responded to 300 Ladera Street after police dispatch received several 911 calls reporting vandalism and brandishing of a knife. Police found two vehicles with smashed windows and contacted several witnesses. One witness reported sitting his vehicle when an SUV loaded with five young men stopped along side. One suspect approached his vehicle on foot, smashed out the drivers’ window, and brandished a large butcher knife. The frightened victim slid across the glass covered seat and escaped out the passenger door. A second vehicle sustained a broken window and pry marks on a door. Other witnesses heard the suspects shouting derogatory comments about a (presumably) rival gang before driving away in their SUV. Later that evening, at 8:55 p.m., Officer Castro was at the USA Gas Station at 8 S. Milpas Street when a 2003 Ford Explorer playing a loud stereo pulled in to get gas. The Explorer matched the suspect vehicle’s description and was occupied by five gang members. As Officer Castro contacted the driver to investigate, he saw several open containers of beer and a large butcher knife in plain view. With the assistance of some back-up officers, the five occupants were detained. Other property found in the vehicle included an illegal knife, a metal pipe and a screwdriver often used by gang members as weapons. A witness in the earlier vandalism case identified the driver as the suspect who smashed his window and threatened him with the butcher knife. Arrested were:
Emilio Mora, age 19, for vandalism, brandishing a weapon, criminal conspiracy, possession of an illegal weapon, and committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang;
Roberto Amador, age 19, for possession of an illegal weapon, criminal conspiracy, committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang, and minor in possession of alcohol;
Jose Pedro Zavala, age 21, for possession of an illegal weapon, criminal conspiracy, and committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang;
A 17-year-old male for possession of an illegal weapon, criminal conspiracy, committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang, and possession of drug paraphernalia;
And a 17-year-old male for possession of an illegal weapon, criminal conspiracy, and committing a crime in furtherance of a street gang.
In an unrelated case, last night at 10:30 p.m., two teens were sitting in their vehicle at Franklin Center, 1100 E. Mason Street, when they were confronted by three suspected teenaged gang members. One suspect had a knife. The victims were punched, threatened, and robbed of $10 cash. One victim sustained a minor cut to his hand. This case is under investigation.
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