Dec
13
SANTA BARBARA, CA - 12/11/2007 - The large Christmas tree ensconced at 1300 State Street had a close call last Friday (12/7/07) after being struck by a luxury coupe driven by an impaired driver. At 12:50 a.m. police responded to a call of a traffic collision in the 1300 block of State Street. The driver, Linda Teague Goggin, age 66, was on the curb being attended to by a witness. Her 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII was smashed into the iron sleeve that serves as a tree stand for the 50 foot Christmas tree. The vehicle sustained major damage; however, the tree
appeared unscathed. Police determined that Goggin had been driving south on State Street. As she approached the Christmas tree covered with lights, she apparently became confused. She didn’t see the tree, and believed the lights were strung between the buildings. She drove smack through a ring of white traffic cones before colliding with the tree dead-center. Officer Chris Ortega, who serves as SBPD’s DUI enforcement expert, noticed that Goggin was disoriented and exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of a drug or medication. Goggin was arrested for driving while under the influence. Fortunately, the
tree appears able to continue service throughout the holiday season.
Dec
11
SANTA BARBARA, CA - 12/10/2007. Here is a synopsis of activity handled this weekend by the Santa Barbara Police Department:
On 12/7/07, Santa Barbara Police detectives obtained information that a wanted parolee named Jason Speed, age 28, was spotted in the Santa Barbara area driving a grey Mazda Pickup truck with New Mexico plates. At 3:30 p.m. detectives spotted Speed driving the Mazda at Motel 6 on Corona Del Mar. The vehicle was stopped without incident. Inside the vehicle were a 17-year-old female and a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun. The female, who admitted to recent drug use, was turned over to her father. Speed was arrested for violation of parole and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
On 12/7/07 at 7:30 p.m., while officers were working the State Street Christmas Parade, citizens reported a gang fight about to start in the bottom level of City Lot 9, adjacent to the Lobero Theater. Police arrived before the fighting started, scattering numerous juveniles in every direction. Police detained five teens: two males and three females. One 15-year-old female was arrested after police found a concealed claw-hammer carried ?for protection.? The other four, ages 15, 15, 16, and 16 were cited for loitering in a City parking lot without lawful purpose. Note that the two males were 5-10, 250 lbs; and 6-2, 280 lbs. The quick police response helped prevent any actual violence from marring the parade event.
On 12/7/07 at 11:50 p.m. Gang Officers Gonzalez and Miller contacted the occupants of a 2000 Ford Pick-up parked at 200 N. Soledad Street. Officer Gonzalez recognized three occupants as gang members or associates. Inside the vehicle were common gang weapons including a club, two knives, and a hammer. Jesus Adrian Morales, age 19 was arrested for possession of an illegal weapon and possessing the weapon in furtherance of a street gang; a 16-year-old male was arrested for the same charges plus violation of probation and curfew; Miguel Marquez, age 20 was arrested for an outstanding warrant; and the 17-year-old driver was cited for being a minor driving with a measurable amount of alcohol (zero tolerance), having passengers in the vehicle after 10:00 p.m., and violation of curfew. The vehicle was towed.
Dec
10
DUI Wrap-Up–Nine More Drivers Arrested
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SANTA BARBARA, CA - 12/10/2007. The Santa Barbara Police Department has arrested nine more people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol:
On 12/6/07 at 1:45 a.m. Officer Klug stopped Olimpia Grassi, age 23 for running a stop-sign at Gutierrez and Chapala Streets in her 2008 Chevy Trailblazer. Grassi was arrested for DUI.
On 12/06/07 at 8:15 p.m. Officer Ortega stopped Robert S. Semple, age 45 at 300 N. Milpas Street in his 1994 GMC Sonora pickup for not wearing his seatbelt. Semple was arrested for DUI and unlicensed driver.
On 12/6/07 at 11:00 p.m. Alejandro Leal, age 26 was driving his 1991 Toyota Corolla on Chapala at Sola Street when he collided with a Toyota Tundra. Leal was arrested for DUI and unlicensed driver.
On 12/8/07 at 1:20 a.m. police stopped Christie Jayne Allen, age 21, for driving downtown with her lights off in her Toyota 4-Runner. Allen was arrested for DUI.
On 12/8/07 at 1:55 a.m. Officer S. Hill stopped Peggie Louise Jones, age 54 for not stopping at the crosswalk limit line at Ortega and State Street in her 1997 Lexus LX450. Jones was arrested for DUI.
On 12/8/07 at 3:20 a.m. Officer Veneble stopped Manuel Medel-Moran, age 30 for squealing his tires as he exited City Lot 11 and cutting off another motorist as he drove his 1992 Mercedes 300E. Medel-Moran was arrested for DUI, unlicensed driver and no insurance.
On 12/9/07 at 1:30 p.m. a citizen reported following a possible drunk driver from a Liquor Store at Las Positas and Modoc to Foster?s Freeze at 1900 Cliff Drive. The citizen directed police to John Ruiz, age 54 and his 1992 Pontiac Grand Am. Police arrested Ruiz for DUI, driving on a suspended license, plus three misdemeanor warrants. The citizen?s reason for following the vehicle and calling police was because a close relative had been hit by a drunk driver. Note that Ruiz?s blood-alcohol (BA) level was .25, more than three times the legal limit.
On 12/9/07 at 10:20 p.m. police stopped Miguel Valdez Zepeda, age 38 after he drove his 2002 Chevy Suburban into a checkpoint at 800 E. Haley Street. Zepeda was arrested for DUI.
On 12/9/07 at 11:30 p.m. Officer Klug stopped Suzannah Taylor, age 28 in the Ralph?s Store parking lot at 2840 De La Vina Street after witnessing her back her 2004 Ford F-350 into a cement light standard at high speed causing significant damage to her truck. Taylor was arrested for DUI.
In addition, the 12/9/07 checkpoint held at 800 E. Haley and 1400 Cliff Drive resulted in fourteen (14) drivers cited for driving without or on a suspended drivers license. All 14 of these drivers had their vehicles impounded.
The Santa Barbara Police Department urges drivers to help make this holiday season safe for everyone. Don’t take a chance; don’t drink and drive!
Dec
6
Stolen Vehicle Quickly Recovered–SBSO Helicopter Assists
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 12/5/2007. A 47-year-old Buellton woman is in custody after taking a stolen delivery van on a short joy-ride. At 12:10 p.m., a delivery-man working for DHL Delivery Service was unloading merchandize at the loading dock at Long’s Drug Store, 2973 State Street. The keys were left in the ignition. As the man was inside the store, a woman jumped inside the van, started the engine and fled. The deliveryman watched helplessly as his distinctively colored bright-yellow van fled south on State Street. He called police dispatch that sent officers into the area. Meanwhile, SBSO Deputy Don Harris, who was piloting a Sheriff’s helicopter, heard the BOL and responded to assist. Together with his spotter, Deputy Mike Moeller, they spotted the stolen van parked in the 2000 block of De La Vina Street. They directed officers to the location, who found the vehicle parked unattended in front of Cares Mental Health facility, 2034 De La Vina Street. It turned out that after taking the van, the suspect, Laura Rojas Alvarado, went to Cares to say she took the van. She was cooperative with police and arrested without incident. Alvarado did have a large butcher knife in her possession. She told officers that she considered using the knife to harm herself or others. Alvarado’s exact motive for taking the van remains unclear. She was booked for auto theft and possession of the dangerous weapon (butcher knife.) In addition to this incident, Police believe Alvarado tried to steal a vehicle at Educated Car Wash 3735 State Street. Shortly before the Long’s incident, a woman matching Alvarado’s description jumped into a customer’s vehicle in the process of being washed. Employees prevented the strangely acting woman from taking the vehicle. They last saw her walking toward Longs Drug Store.
Dec
4
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 12/3/2007 – Here is a summary of recent SBPD activity:
On 11/29/07, Detective Brown arrested Eduardo Arzete Zermeno, age 19 in connection with the gang attack of two men on 11/12/07 at the Franklin School. Zermeno, a known gang member, and two other men attacked the two victims as they arrived to meet up with some females. Zermeno is suspected of stabbing one victim in the hand and kicking the other victim in the head. The victims were robbed of cash. Zermeno was identified due to one victim (not a gang member) knowing him from childhood. Zermeno was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, possession of an illegal knife, and committing the crime in furtherance of a street gang.
On 11/29/07 at 8:30 p.m. Detective Holtke spotted Michael Schoepp driving a 1983 Toyota at Garden and Yanonali Streets. Officer Holtke knew Schoepp had warrants and a suspended license. As the officer turned on his red lights, Schoepp accelerated up Garden Street, hitting speeds of 60 to 80 MPH and driving on the wrong side of the road. Due to the reckless driving, the pursuit was ended and Schoepp escaped. At 9:40 p.m. other officers, all familiar with Schoepp, spotted him on-foot near Lou Dillon and Salinas Street. This time, without a set of wheels, Schoepp was arrested without incident. Schoepp was booked for felony evading arrest, possession of stolen property, suspended license, no auto insurance and the two warrants which stemmed from prior incidents of driving on a suspended license.
On 12/1/07 at 2:50 p.m. Officer DeJohn stopped Rudy Corral Alarcon, age 48, in his 2000 GMC Sierra pickup on Pesetas Lane for the minor violation of no front license plate. The officer noticed Alarcon was “shaking uncontrollably” and showing symptoms of drug use. Officer DeJohn arrested Alarcon for suspicion of driving under the influence. In the vehicle were numerous baggies of suspected narcotics including: Heroin, Crystal Methamphetamine, Methadone pills, Ecstasy pills and a digital scale. Alarcon and the passenger, Ernest Lozano Cobos age 48, were brought to SBPD for investigation. Cobos gave inconsistent statements about where they came from and where they were headed. Both admitted some involvement in possessing the drugs. They were booked for possession for sales and transportation of controlled narcotics. Alarcon is from Camarillo and Cobos from Oxnard.
On 12/1/07 at 12:00 midnight gang enforcement officers spotted a Mazda sedan driving on the lower Eastside, speeding and having expired registration. The officers followed the vehicle north on Hwy 101 from Milpas Street and it exited at Garden Street. The officers noticed gang members crouching in the back seat as though trying to hide. The officers tried to stop the vehicle but it got back on the freeway traveling south on Hwy 101. The officers turned on their lights and engaged in a pursuit. The vehicle drove 70-75 MPH down Hwy 101 in light traffic. In Carpinteria, a loaded handgun and a crack-pipe were thrown out the window–both were recovered by police. SBSO briefly took the lead in the pursuit, before the CHP took over near the Mussel Shoals exit. The CHP followed the suspect vehicle to Ventura, where it got off the freeway. It got back on, this time traveling north on Hwy 101. The CHP deployed a spike strip near Mussel Shoals. The suspect vehicle hit the strip which disabled the tires and the vehicle stopped without further incident. Police arrested the driver, Beatrice Solize Lino, age 26, for parole violation, evading arrest, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police arrested the three passengers, ages 16, 17, and 17 for violation of their probation. All three juveniles are gang members. Reportedly, the juveniles kept urging Lino to keep fleeing from police.
Dec
4
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 12/3/2007 – Here is a summary of this week’s DUI enforcement:
On 11/27/07 at 5:45 p.m. a citizen reported a very intoxicated man get out of his vehicle parked at the 7-11 Store at 3430 State Street. Officer Ragsdale stopped Thomas Palacios, age 53, just as he started driving away from 7-11 in his 1988 Ford Bronco. Palacios was arrested for DUI and parole violation.
On 11/28/07 at 8:00 a.m. Jon Scott Jessup, age 44 made a right turn from Cabrillo Blvd. to Milpas Street in his 2001 Nissan Frontier at an unsafe speed and crashed head-on into a 1999 Peterbuilt semi-tractor truck. The Nissan had major damage and the Peterbuilt had moderate. Jessup went to Cottage Hospital with a dislocated ankle, and his 51-year-old female passenger with a broken femur. Jessup displayed symptoms of drug use and admitted to recently smoking “crack” cocaine. Jessup was arrested for a felony count of driving under the influence of a controlled drug and causing injury.
On 11/28/07 at 8:00 p.m. police stopped Steven William Reese, age 57 for running a stop sign on Old Coast Highway in his 2004 Chevy Aveo. Reese was arrested for DUI.
On 11/29/07 at 7:00 p.m. police were watching a pay phone on the lower Eastside, believing that a suspect in a possible false imprisonment investigation might use it. Police stopped Rogelio Salgado Morales, age 30 after he drove up and used the pay phone. It turned out that Morales was not involved in the false imprisonment case, but he was arrested for DUI and unlicensed driver.
On 11/30/07 at 2:30 a.m. police stopped Andrew Robert Naeve, age 21, for driving downtown in his 1999 Honda CRV with a headlight burned out. Naeve was arrested for DUI.
On 11/30/07 at 11:20 p.m. police stopped Eric Lincoln Stahr, age 45 for driving on lower Milpas Street in his 1986 Ford Bronco while the headlights were off. Stahr was arrested for DUI, unlicensed driver, and no insurance.
On 11/30/07 at 11:30 p.m. police stopped Julie Hornig, age 38 for running a stop sign on upper Milpas Street in her Subaru. Hornig was arrested for DUI. Her passenger, Wendy Browne was arrested for public intoxication after yelling obscenities and honking the horn while the officers were conducting the DUI investigation.
On 12/1/07 at 5:45 p.m. a citizen called police dispatch to report a 2002 Tacoma pickup traveling 35 MPH on the southbound shoulder of Hwy 101. The vehicle exited at Mission Street, got back on the freeway traveling north, nearly sideswiped another vehicle, and exited at Las Positas. The citizen followed the suspect to the Earl Warren Showgrounds and met with a police officer. The erratic driver, Ace Royal Southergill, age 75 was arrested for DUI.
On 12/1/07 at 7:30 p.m. police responded to a traffic accident near State and Constance Street. A 1992 Dodge Van driven by Wayne Farris, age 60 had crashed into a parked Toyota Camry. Officer Hall arrested Farris for suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication.
On 12/2/07 at 2:15 a.m. police stopped Wuu Chan Kim for driving his 2008 Honda the wrong way on Gutierrez Street. Kim was arrested for DUI.
On 12/2/07 at 3:30 a.m. the staff at Motel 6 on Corona del Mar reported an apparent gang party turned fight in one of their rooms. Officer Hons tried to stop Jose Pedro Zavala, age 22 driving away in a 2001 Suzuki SUV. Zavala did not yield for several blocks but did finally pull over. Zavala was arrested for DUI and evading arrest.
Dec
4
Auto Burglary Spike–Vehicles with Visible Valuables Targeted
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 11/29/2007. SBPD has seen a sizeable spike in reported auto burglaries over the last two months. Instead of the usual 15-20 cases reported monthly, the number has jumped to more than 40 this month alone. The vast number of these cases are “smash and grab,” where suspects can get in and get out in seconds. The method used to break the window varies from pry bars, other tools that leave no trace, and even rocks or bricks. The hardest hit areas include: The downtown parking garages; streets surrounding SBCC at 721 Cliff Drive; and upper Eastside neighborhoods. However, window smash auto burglaries have been reported in many other areas as well.
What virtually all the auto burglaries have in common is that valuables were left in plain sight. The most common attractant for thieves has been I-Pod music devices, followed by purses, wallets, backpacks, and other small electronics. In some cases, the burglary victim hid their I-Pod but left the distinctive white colored cord plugged into the stereo. In other cases, it appears the suspect may have watched the victim stuff a purse or valuables under the seat before leaving the vehicle unattended. Many, but not all of the thefts, occurred during the hours of darkness.
SBPD has arrested three people in the past two weeks in connection with smash-and-grab auto burglaries. These arrests have helped but not stopped the thefts from occurring.
SBPD warns the public that thieves are roaming parking lots looking for valuables and opportunities to strike. As recently shown in an SBPD demonstration, a suspect can break automotive glass, snatch valuables left in plain sight, and flee the scene in mere seconds. SBPD urges the public to take the following safety precautions:
–Do not leave valuables or evidence of valuables inside vehicle passenger areas. This includes I-Pod cords, backpacks, or hastily hidden purses.
–Lock valuables in the truck before arriving at your destination.
–Be aware of your surroundings.
–Report suspicious activity to police.
Remember that thieves roam parking lots looking for targets and opportunities. Be safety conscious–do not become an auto burglary victim.