Nov
27
SANTA BARBARA, CA - 11/26/2008 - On 10/24/08 a 21 year old female Santa Barbara City College student came to the Santa Barbara Police Department lobby to file an indecent exposure crime report that took place at the SBCC parking lot. She reported that on 10/24/08, at approximately 11:20 a.m., she was at the SBCC parking lot waiting to park her car. The suspect was in his car behind her when he honked his horn. She motioned him to go around but he waited for about 5-10 minutes then drove off. She subsequently parked her car and exited her car. As she was locking her car, she saw that the suspect had blocked her car in. She walked over to the suspect?s car to thank him for not taking the parking stall. She then saw the suspect exposing and holding his genitalia. She walked away and reported it to the SBCC security office.
Later that same day, (10/24/08), a 22 year old female SBCC student came to the police department lobby and filed an indecent exposure crime report. She reported that she was walking on Loma Alta at noon, crossed the street, and proceeded to walk on Cliff drive. She saw the suspect in a gold Honda. The car appeared to be waiting to leave the apartment complex located at the corner of Loma Alta and Cliff Drive. When she was about ten feet from the corner, the vehicle made a left turn onto Cliff drive and traveled away from her. The vehicle then pulled over and parked in the red zone on the same side of the street she was walking on. It appeared that the vehicle was waiting for her to walk by the car. She thought that the driver was going to ask her for directions or offer her a ride. As she walked by the car she made eye contact with the suspect. The suspect then looked down to his waist. The victim then saw that the suspect was holding his exposed genetalia. The suspect then quickly drove away but she was able to get the license plate of the vehicle.
Santa Barbara Police Detectives conducted a records check of the license plate and it revealed that the vehicle was registered to a local resident. Detectives contacted the registered owner of the vehicle and he agreed to come to the station. On 11/06/08 Gerson Tomas Chinchilla Castro, age 29, came to the police station and was interviewed by detectives. Detectives continued their investigation and secured an arrest warrant for Castro charging him with two counts of indecent exposure.
On 11/25/08, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Gerson Tomas Chinchilla Castro, age 29, was arrested without incident at his place of employment. Castro was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on two counts of indecent exposure.
Nov
13
Three Stabbed in Gang Fight
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SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 11/12/08 at approximately 9:07 p.m. police responded to 300 block of W. Valerio Street on a call of an individual who had been stabbed. Minutes later, officers received a call of a second stabbing victim at 300 block of W. Arrellaga St. Once officers arrived in the area they were able to establish the following had occurred.
An 18 year old Hispanic male suspect was traveling northbound on Bath Street near Micheltorena Street in a white Toyota Tundra. The suspect was accompanied by an unknown number of individuals. The suspect saw a 17 year old Hispanic male juvenile on Bath Street near the intersection of Bath and Arrellaga Street. The vehicle stopped and the suspect accompanied by another male confronted the 17 year old. The suspect asked the 17 year old where he was from. The 17 year old claimed a rival gang and a fight ensued. As the fight was in progress, a 15 year old male juvenile was walking in the area, saw the fight, and went to the aid of his 17 year old friend. Once this happened the 17 year old ran away suffering from a stab wound to his abdomen. The 15 year old was left fighting the suspect and an additional subject. During the fight the 15 year old suffered several superficial stab wounds. The 15 year old produced his own knife and stabbed the suspect in the ear and neck area. The suspect suffered a laceration to his neck and the loss of a portion of his ear.
The fight stopped due to some of the involved subjects running away to their homes. The vehicle and the individual that aided the suspect in the fight were not located at the scene and are still outstanding. The suspect and two juveniles injured in the fight were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and were treated and admitted for non life threatening wounds. The incident is considered gang related. No arrests have been made at this time. The investigation is continuing and authorities are asking the public to call in if they have any information on this incident.
Nov
12
SANTA BARBARA, CA - On 11/11/08 at approximately 6:00 p.m. Santa Barbara Police Department Detectives arrested Susan Mangan at her home in Oakland, California.
The investigation began in Santa Barbara back in 1998 when officers responded to a call of a home invasion robbery here in the city. As the investigation unfolded, the home was identified as a house of prostitution. Identified as one of the persons in-charge of running the house of prostitution was Susan Mangan, 48 years of age at the time. An arrest warrant was issued for Susan Mangan in 1998 charging her with Pimping, Pandering, and Keeping a House of Ill Fame. She fled the city and had been on the run ever since.
The Santa Barbara Police Department and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office continued their investigation as to the whereabouts of Mangan throughout the years. Mangan had been able to elude authorities until the summer of 2008. Information was developed that indicated that Mangan was currently living on the 700 block of 43rd Street in Oakland under several AKA’s. Detectives updated the warrant that had been issued back in 1998 for Mangan. The update included an increase on the bail to $2,000,000. A search warrant was also obtained for Mangan?s home. Santa Barbara Police Department Detectives went to Oakland and on 11/11/08 at approximately 6:00 p.m. took Mangan into custody as she exited her home.
Mangan, age 58, was transported back to Santa Barbara and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on the warrant charging her with Pimping, Pandering, and Keeping a House of Ill Fame. The investigation is continuing as to possible charges of identity theft. For further information on this arrest/investigation call Sergeant Ed Olsen, Crimes Against Persons Detective Sergeant at (805) 897-2347.
Nov
4
Overpass Standoff Ends in Arrest
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SANTA BARBARA, CA - 11/3/2008 - At 7:10 A.M. Santa Barbara Police Officers responded to a report of a suspicious subject in military fatigues on top of the La Cumbre Rd/U.S. 101 freeway overpass. The California Highway Patrol received similar calls and officers were dispatched. Upon arrival, the officers found one individual dressed in military fatigues and wearing a ski mask. The male subject was waving an American flag in one hand and holding a handgun in the other. The suspect, later identified as Edward Van Tassel, 28 years old, of Santa Barbara was yelling complaints about the current Iraq War, the current treatment of veterans and expressing his hope that Barack Obama wins the presidential election. Officers immediately cordoned off the area. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, traffic on both Northbound and Southbound lanes of U.S. 101 were stopped.
The Santa Barbara Police SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Response Teams were activated and responded. The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s SWAT Team responded with an armored vehicle to assist in negotiations. Crisis negotiators engaged Van Tassel in negotiations in which he demanded to obtain an Obama presidential campaign sign. Van Tassel complied with the directions to lay down the firearm in return for the sign. The sign was delivered to Van Tassel by the Santa Barbara County Bomb Squad robot. Officers were able to retrieve the firearm while Van Tassel hung the American Flag and the Obama sign on the overpass chain link fence. Van Tassel surrendered to authorities at approximately 10:35 A.M. There were no injuries reported during the incident. There were no residential evacuations made during the event however, adjacent business were closed for an extended period.
Van Tassel was determined to be a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Iraq. The Santa Barbara County Bomb Squad examined the duffle bag and a small compact car that Van Tassel used during the incident. The bag was found to contain personal belongings and paperwork. No additional weapons were found. The investigation also revealed that Van Tassel was responsible for an unreported incident that occurred on October 31, 2008 at approximately 6:00 A.M. at KJEE, a local radio station. During this incident an employee found an individual dressed in brown fatigues, wearing a ski mask, and in possession of a handgun on the property. It is unknown at this time how Van Tassel gained access to KJEE property.
During today’s investigation, a second subject identified as Aaron Jacob Levy, 33 years old, of Santa Barbara was located and identified as a person who had driven Van Tassel to the location. Levy accompanied investigators to the station for further interviews. Through the investigation detectives determined that Levy was a co-conspirator to Van Tassel’s actions. Levy accompanied Van Tassel to the overpass in order to accomplish the task.
Edward Van Tassel was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of: possession of a concealed firearm; possession of a dangerous weapon; Conspiracy; resist or delay arrest; brandishing a firearm towards police officers; disturbing the peace; wearing a mask for the commission of a crime and permitting another person to operate a vehicle without a valid license. He was also booked on charges of burglary, possession of a concealed firearm, and brandishing a firearm for the October 31st incident at KJEE.
Aaron Jacob Levy was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of: conspiracy to commit the brandishing a firearm towards police officers, disturbing the peace and possession of a dangerous weapon; and driving with a suspended license. This investigation is ongoing.