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SANTA BARBARA, CA - The Santa Barbara Police Department tragically lost one of its police canines, Ignaz, last Sunday due to a sudden medical emergency known as Mesenteric Torsion. K-9 Ignaz, a 4-1/2 year old German Shepard, was a 3 year veteran of the SBPD K-9 Unit. K-9 Ignaz was a loyal, dedicated, and hard-working employee who accumulated 44 suspect apprehensions and over 150 narcotic finds during his short career. K-9 Ignaz was recognized for his efforts during the Goleta Post Office Shooting in 2006, as well as apprehending a violent robber and tracking down a fleeing burglar in 2007. K-9 Ignaz and his handler, Officer Michael Claytor, conducted multiple demonstrations at schools and community organizations annually. K-9 Ignaz will be deeply missed not only by the Claytor family, but by the entire department and community as well.

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Pedro Nava presented Officer Anita Chamberlain with a resolution at a ceremony in the State Capitol today recognizing her as the 35th Assembly District Woman of the Year:

“Anita Chamberlain represents hope, compassion and courage,” said Nava. “Her commitment to the community and its youth is admirable. She has touched many lives through her work as a police officer and volunteer for many different organizations. She is really making a difference. Santa Barbara is lucky to have her. I am honored to recognize her.?”

Officer Chamberlain’s current assignment is D.A.R.E. Officer, teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education curriculum to 5th and 6th graders. This program not only teaches students about the harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, but it addresses the consequences of gang violence and stresses the importance of good decision making, and the consequences of gang violence, resisting peer pressure, making solid friendships and being a good citizen.

As the only D.A.R.E. Officer in the city of Santa Barbara, Officer Chamberlain is responsible for teaching the D.A.R.E. curriculum at 13 schools, currently teaching 17 classes a week. In January, the Fall Semester 2007 D.A.R.E. Class graduated 447 students! This workload translates to over 850 D.A.R.E. graduates every year.

During the school year, Officer Chamberlain works closely with teachers and principals and is a welcome addition to the school campuses she visits. In addition to her heavy class schedule of D.A.R.E. lessons, Officer Chamberlain maintains contact with and interacts with her students by stopping by at lunchtime, playing sports at recess, participating in school jog-a-thons, frequently visiting 6th grade outdoor camp and attending various school functions on her own time.

Officer Anita Chamberlain is a 22 year veteran of the Santa Barbara Police Department. She started her career in 1985 when she was hired as a civilian employee. She was soon recruited and “hit the streets” as a police officer in 1987. She has worked in every division in the police department and spent most of her career on patrol working the night shift. During her “patrol career” she became an expert at handling domestic violence cases and sexual assault investigations. Her thorough investigations, coupled with her compassionate manner gained recognition from the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center and Santa Barbara District Attorneys and their Victim/Witness Office. During her off-duty hours, Officer Chamberlain was the captain of the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Baker to Vegas Running Team. As an avid runner and triathlete, Anita represented the police department at the annual Summer Police Olympics. In addition, she always assisted and participated in community events like the Special Olympics Torch Run and local area athletic events.

Officer Chamberlain readily embraced the SBPD department’s “community oriented policing” philosophy and has been recognized for her community involvement both on and off duty. Officer Chamberlain worked as a Beat Coordinator for 4 years working with residents to address long term neighborhood problems and quality of life issues. As a Beat Coordinator, Officer Chamberlain participated in neighborhood clean ups, coordinated neighborhood watch programs and for 3 years was the facilitator for the police department’s Citizen Academy. During this time Officer Chamberlain began volunteering for and assisting with Police Activities League programs. P.A.L. provides programs for at-risk youth, including after school activities, camps, and tutoring. Anita enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the youth while volunteering for events and chaperoning for the P.A.L. Youth Leadership Council trips. Officer Chamberlain was also the advisor for the SBPD Explorer Post, a leadership program for High School students mainly geared for young people considering a career in law enforcement.

In 2005 Anita was recognized by the Santa Barbara Optimists Club for her positive can-do attitude, dedication to her job, and for her personal work with a group of developmentally disabled adults who performed meaningful tasks and did worked around the police department every week.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Over the last few months, Santa Barbara Police Department Narcotic Detectives have received information that Elson Tapia, 24 years of age, was trafficking narcotics within the City of Santa Barbara. On March 5, 2008, detectives observed several hand-to-hand transactions from Tapia’s residence at 551 west Pueblo Street #3 involving Tapia and a juvenile. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Tapia’s residence which was served with the assistance of the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team. Inside the residence officers seized approximately one ounce of powder cocaine, $4,494 cash, scales and packaging materials. During the investigation it was discovered that a five year old lives at the residence. Cocaine was found on the dining room table, easily accessible by the five year old. Elson Tapia was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for Possession of Cocaine for Sale, Sales of Cocaine, Child Endangerment, and Adult Using a Minor for Sales. The juvenile was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall for Possession of Cocaine for Sales, Sales of Cocaine, and Child Endangerment.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - The Santa Barbara Police Department?s Police Activities League (PAL) offers a variety of programs for youth to be involved in. PAL had a busy month in February. The following are events that were participated in by youth in the Police Activities League.

PAL SPORTS:
On the weekend of February 15-17, the Inglewood Police Activities sponsored a soccer tournament and the Santa Barbara Police Department took their 14 year old and under boys soccer team to the tournament. The boys placed third out of 8 teams! The same weekend, the Santa Monica Police Activities League sponsored a basketball tournament where 18 teams participated. The Santa Barbara Police Department took three boys teams which placed 4th or higher! The High School (age) Boys took 4th place. The 14 and under boys came in 3rd and the 12 and under boys came in 2nd place.

PAL LEADERSHIP:
The Santa Barbara Police Department has a PAL Leadership group which consists of youth in the PAL program. On the weekend of February 29-March 2 the department took 9 of those teens to Boreal Mountain Snow Boarding in Truckee, Ca. They were all given a half day snow boarding lesson and then attacked the bunny slopes. It was the first time any of these teens had been snowboarding.

PAL ART:
The Santa Barbara Police Department PAL program works closely with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. PAL pays for 50 fifth and sixth graders to attend a ten week art course. At the end of each course, the museum displays the children’s art for the children’s families and the public to view. The museum had over 3000 guests attend the viewing. A good time had by all.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 02/23/08, at approximately 11:30 p.m., members of the Santa Barbara Police Department Special Enforcement Team were patrolling in the area of Carpinteria St. One of the officers recognized Xavier Alvarez, 24 years of age, as a subject that was currently wanted by authorities. Upon seeing police Alvarez ran and officers gave chase. Alvarez ran into a home on the 900 block of Quinientos St. When Alvarez did so, officers were able to see a second wanted subject, Steven Fields, 25 years of age, inside the home. Additional officers were called to the home and both Alvarez and Fields were taken into custody for Parole Violation and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Alvarez and Fields are suspected of being involved in a gang related stabbing that occurred earlier this year on Micheltorena St. Detectives responded to the station to assist with the investigation.

On 02/22/08, at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers were in the area of Montecito St. and Elizabeth St. assisting a semi truck driver in maneuvering his vehicle out of a parking lot. While the semi truck was backing up, Officers observed male juveniles walk up to the truck and begin writing/spray painting (tagging) something on it. One of the juveniles was approached by a witness and told to stop. The juvenile then made threatening comments towards the witness. The officer observed the writing and realized it was associated with Santa Barbara street gangs. Officers had also observed Fernando Alcaraz, 18 years of age, appearing to be a “look out” while the juveniles “tagged” the truck. Officers recognized the juveniles and Alcaraz as gang members or associates. Officers subsequently contacted both juveniles and Alcaraz. One of the juveniles, 17 years of age, became combative and an officer had to use his tazer in order to take the juvenile into custody for Vandalism, Resisting Arrest, and Gang Enhancement. Alcaraz did not initially listen of officers’ commands and at one point approached officers while they were taking the juvenile into custody. Alcaraz was arrested for Delaying Officers in their Duties and Gang Enhancement. The second juvenile, 14 years of age, was arrested for Vandalism, Threatening a Witness, and Gang Enhancement.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 02/02/08, at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers responded to a fight in progress at Jack-in-the-Box. Upon arrival officers contacted the victim and noticed that he had an approximate one inch laceration to the back of his head. The victim told officers that he, his wife, and his friend had entered Jack-in-the-Box and were walking towards the counter. As they passed by one of the tables occupied by four individuals, he noticed that they were eating and drinking beers. After passing the table the victim was struck in the back of the head with an unknown object and went to the ground. The victim heard one of the individuals say something to the effect that this was their “hood” to the victim and began to hit him. The victim was able to get to his feet and defend himself. The four subjects fled the area prior to police arrival. A friend of the victim was contacted and also stated that he had been assaulted by the group of four individuals. He recalled being asked, “do you have a problem?” and being told that this was their neighborhood. He suffered minor abrasions. Both the victim and his friend were treated by medical personnel at the scene. The victims are not associated with any gangs.

The case was assigned to detectives and the investigation lead detectives to two suspects, Daniel De Jesus, 19 years of age, and Ernesto Gil Lopez, 19 years of age, both known gang members. Detectives secured both arrest and search warrants for De Jesus and Lopez. On 02/20/08, in the early morning hours, Youth Services Detectives and members of the Special Enforcement Team served the warrants at the homes of De Jesus and Lopez. Both subjects were taken into custody and charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Gang Enhancement.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Due to numerous calls reporting suspected drug use and drug sales in the areas of 600-900 blocks of E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara Police Department Narcotics Detectives along with the Santa Barbara Police Department Tactical Patrol Force conducted an undercover operation which yielded several arrests. On 01/16/08, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Narcotic Detectives conducted a surveillance of the 800 block of Montecito Street. During the surveillance, they observed an individual; later identified as Eliu Ramon Garnica 27 years of age, conduct what detectives suspected to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction. Moments later, an undercover detective purchased cocaine base ?rock? from Garnica. As part of the operation, Garnica was contacted again on 01/18/08 by detectives and taken into custody for drug sales. Garnica was accompanied by Cynthia Lynn Angulo, 41 years of age, who was arrested for violation of parole.

On 01/18/08, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Narcotics detectives and the Tactical Patrol Force team were conducting surveillance in the area of E. Montecito Street and Alisos St. Officers observed a suspected hand-to-hand drug transaction and subsequently contacted Catarino Acevedo, 27 years of age. A search of Acevedo revealed he was in possession of cocaine base ?rock?. Acevedo lied about his true identity during initial contact with officers but once his true name was identified he was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. Catarino was arrested for possession of cocaine, false information to a Peace Officer, and the outstanding warrant. During this operation, surveillance and follow-up investigations led detectives to a house on the 1200 block of E. Montecito St. Detectives secured a search warrant for the home/property served it on 01/23/08. A search of the home/property revealed over 56 grams of cocaine base “rock” and cash in denominations consistent with drug sales. Arrested for possession fro sale of Cocaine base were Cirilo Barrera Noguez, 23 years of age, Jose Martin Noguez, 18 years of age, and Pedro Noguez, 19 years of age.

On 02/17/08, at about noon, a family of four was approaching the fourth tee at the City Golf Course located at 3000 Macaw. The fourth tee box is adjacent to Calle Real. The family consisted of three adults and one juvenile. They saw the suspect near the fence that separates the golf course from Calle Real. As they approached on their golf carts, the suspect moved to the fourth tee bench. He then approached the adult male victim and displayed a handgun. The suspect robbed the family of $250 and was last seen fleeing on foot. Officers responded and searched the area but did not find the suspect. The suspect was described as a white male adult, approximately 45 years of age, 5-08, wearing a grey sweatshirt, khaki pants, and a straw hat.

On 02/15/08, at approximately 9:40 p.m., Santa Barbara Police Department officers responded to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on a stabbing investigation. Officers contacted a 16 year old juvenile who had walked into the Cottage Hospital emergency room suffering from a single stab wound. The juvenile told officers that he had been assaulted by three unknown individuals and provided no further description. The juvenile gave the location of the stabbing to be near Cottage Hospital. The juvenile was admitted for observations. Santa Barbara Police Detectives were contacted and the investigation is continuing as to the motive. The investigation revealed the juvenile had been the victim of a stabbing in 2006.