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Santa Barbara Police Department detectives worked late into the last few nights following up on all possible leads on this homicide investigation. As the investigation continued, it appeared as though some of the arrested knew the victim and conspired to assault him. Several search and arrest warrants were served in different locations within the city limits. As a result of this investigation, the following individuals were arrested for murder and conspiracy to commit murder:

Michele Murillo Flores (age 30)

Imelda Nava Guevara (age 30)

Lilliana Arrayga (age 18)

Andrew Balderaz (age 35)

Jonathon Alonzo (age 20)

David Anthony Martinez (21) was arrested today (02/24/09) at approximately 10:54 am

All of the arrested reside in Santa Barbara. The investigation also revealed that all of the arrested are involved or associated with a local criminal street gang. Although none arrested were booked for participation in a criminal street gang, detectives are asking the District Attorney?s Office to review the investigation and consider filing criminal street gang enhancement charges based on the conspiracy aspect of this case. Investigators were able to determine that the victim had only lived on the 400 block of De La Vina Street for two days. The victim has been identified as Baldemar Leal, age 22. Leal has resided in the Santa Barbara area for approximately nine years. There is no indication that Leal was involved in criminal street gang activity.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 02/22/09 at approximately 6:52 am, a resident of the area called police to report an individual lying on the ground and unresponsive in the 400 block of De La Vina Street. Police and medic personnel responded. Medics pronounced the individual dead on scene from multiple stab wounds to his upper torso. The victim is a 22 year old Hispanic male. His name is not being released pending notification of next of kin.

The investigation revealed that on Saturday, 02/21/09, at approximately 9:30 pm, a witness saw four subjects assaulting an individual in the 400 block of De La Vina Street. The witness then saw several subjects running south on De La Vina Street and watched the subjects get into a vehicle. The victim was last seen running north on De La Vina Street.

The investigation is continuing and police have three persons in custody. The incident is not gang related and it appears the victim was known to some of the suspects. (The names of the arrested are not being released at this point to preserve the integrity of the investigation.)

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 02/13/09 at approximately 2:17 am, police stopped a silver Jeep on the 500 block of Chapala Street for failing to stop at a stop sign, lane straddling, and failure to drive on a green light. As the vehicle was pulling over, it bumped into the curb. Police contacted the driver, Dwight Alan Eads, age 33, and based on their observations, initiated a DUI investigation. Eads was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail. Eads’ vehicle was towed.

On 02/13/09 at approximately 10:52 pm, police stopped a white Toyota Camry on the 400 Block of Coronel Place for no tail lights and failure to stop at a stop sign. Police contacted the driver, Rogelio Razo Mena, age 33. Razo was attempting to exit his vehicle during the traffic stop. Based on their observations officers began a DUI investigation. A records check of Mena revealed that he did not have a driver?s license. Mena could not produce proof of insurance. Mena was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for driving under the influence (2nd offense in less than 12 months), unlicensed driver, and no proof of insurance. Mena’s vehicle was towed.

On 02/14/09 at approximately 1:12 am, police stopped a silver Dodge truck on the 100 block of west Haley Street for failing to have it headlamps on. Officers contacted the driver, Theodore Cash Llewellyn, age 22, and based on their observations initiated a DUI investigation. Llewellyn was arrested and subsequently cited and released for driving under the influence. Llewellyn’s vehicle was towed.

On 02/14/09 at approximately 1:22 am, officers responded to City Lot #5 on a call of a non-injury traffic collision involving a driver who was possibly DUI. Officers arrived and were directed to the possible DUI driver, Kyleen Marie Dawson, age 43. Officers initiated a DUI investigation on Dawson while other officers contacted the driver of the vehicle that had been hit. When speaking with Angelic Cortes, age 27, officers suspected she was driving her vehicle under the influence. They initiated a DUI investigation on Cortes. Upon completion of both investigations, Dawson and Cortes were arrested and subsequently cited and released for driving under the influence. Both vehicles were towed.

On 02/14/09 at approximately 4:15 am, police stopped a silver Honda Civic on the first block of East Haley Street for traveling the wrong way on a one way street. Officers contacted the driver, Alexandra Marjorie Brown, age 22, and based on their observations initiated a DUI investigation. Brown was arrested and subsequently cited and released for driving under the influence. Brown’s vehicle was towed.

On 02/14/09 at approximately 11:00 pm, officers responded to the 400 block of State Street on a call of a disturbance. While in the area, they observed a grey Nissan Altima traveling the wrong way on the first block of West Gutierrez Street. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and contacted the driver, Shahram Naghifazel, age 41. Based on their observations officers initiated a DUI investigation. A records check of Naghifazel revealed that his driver?s license had been suspended. Naghifazel was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for driving under the influence and suspended license. Naghifazel’s vehicle was towed.

On 02/15/09 at approximately 1:00 am, police contacted the driver of a red Hyundai because the vehicle had stopped in a red zone on the 500 block of State Street and then pulled forward and stopped in a taxi zone on the same block. The driver was identified as Stephen Darrick Turner, age 45. Officers contacted Turner and based on their observations initiated a DUI investigation. A records check of Turner revealed that his driver?s license was suspended. Turner was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for driving under the influence and suspended license.

SANTA BARBARA, CA — On 02/06/09 at approximately 1:25 a.m., members of the Santa Barbara Police Gang Suppression Team were stopped at the intersection of Bath Street and Pueblo Street when they observed a white Volvo traveling eastbound on Pueblo Street. The lights of their police vehicle illuminated the interior of the Volvo which revealed that the driver might possibly be a wanted subject by the name of Christopher Allen Wood. The Gang Suppression Team began to follow the vehicle. The white Volvo then turned north on Chapala Street and east on Quinto Street. Once the vehicle reached State Street, it positioned itself to make a right hand turn. The officers positioned their vehicle to the left of the Volvo in order to take a closer look at the driver of the Volvo. The driver immediately looked away and made a right turn onto State Street. The officers continued to follow the vehicle. The Volvo next made a right turn onto Los Olivos Street accelerating and causing the vehicle to bottom out. Based on the actions of the driver and the driver failing to signal for the right turn, the officers initiated a traffic stop by activating their red and blue police lights. The Volvo failed to stop so the officers activated the siren on their vehicle. The Volvo continued west on Los Olivos Street, south on De La Vina Street, and then west on Pedregosa Street. The Volvo was traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour. The Volvo continued west on Pedregosa Street failing to stop for two stop signs. The Volvo stopped at the dead end of the 400 block of West Pedregosa Street.

Additional officers arrived to assist the Gang Suppression Team. Christopher Allen Wood, age 43, was taken into custody. A records check revealed that Wood had a suspended license. The search of the Volvo revealed electronic devices, a lock box containing numerous keys, and a .22 caliber rifle with the serial number removed. Wood was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail and booked for a violation of parole warrant, a violation of probation warrant, evading, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with serial number removed and driving on a suspended license.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On Tuesday February 3rd, at approximately 9:30 am officers responded to an ambulance follow-up call at 600 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Upon the officer’s arrival he found several homeless subjects who frequent the area of the bathrooms near that location. One of the subjects, 43 year old Ross Timothy Stiles, was complaining of a bad headache. At the time of the contact, Stiles did not indicate he had been the victim of a crime, only stating his head hurt, and was ultimately transported to the hospital for his complaint of pain.

The officer remained at the scene, interviewing the subject’s companions. The officer learned that Stiles informed his friends he had been attacked by two male subjects on Sunday, February 1st, at approximately 9:15 pm. The attack is believed to have taken place near their campsite at 600 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Once the officer completed his interviews, he responded to Cottage Hospital to interview Stiles. Upon his arrival he found Stiles to be unresponsive to questioning.

Stiles was ultimately diagnosed with massive swelling to the brain and emergency surgery was performed. Stiles never regained consciousness and on, Wednesday, February 4th, at approximately 8:30 pm, Stiles died as a result of his condition.

It is unknown at this time if the alleged attack on Sunday, February 1st, played a role in Stiles’ death. Santa Barbara Police Detectives will be treating his death as a possible homicide and are actively following up on all possible leads. An autopsy is pending and may shed more light on the cause of death. Police Investigators are asking for anyone with information regarding this investigation to call Santa Barbara Police Investigators at 897-2344.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 02/04/08 the Santa Barbara Police Department, the Contractors State License Board, and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office conducted an undercover sting operation targeting illegal contractors. The Contractors State License Board conducts operations in various cities regarding contractors who are operating without a license, using someone else’s license, requiring an excessive deposit, and other contracting law violations.

This is the first year the Santa Barbara Police Department, the Contractors Board and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has conducted a joint operation. The Santa Barbara Police Department secured a property on Coyote Road to be used and the undercover contractors board investigators arranged for suspected illegal contractors to come to the property to give bids. The suspected illegal contractors advertised in local papers, had flyers circulating, advertised on the internet, or were the subject of complaints to the contractor’s board.

Once the contractors arrived at the location, they were met by undercover state board investigators. After a violation was committed, the subjects were arrested by the Santa Barbara Police Department. During the operation, 7 felony arrests were made for bidding to perform contractor work without a license in a declared disaster area. One of these subjects was also arrested for being in possession of heroin. The arrested were as follows:

Saul Aguilar, age 56, from Santa Barbara for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, and requesting excessive down payment.

Kevin Bermudes, age 31, from Santa Barbara for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, and requesting excessive down payment.

Elfega Ochoa, age 61, from Goleta for contracting without a license and advertising without a license.

Andrew Poulin, age 20, from Santa Barbara for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, and requesting excessive down payment.

Oscar Rosales, age 46, from Santa Barbara for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, and requesting excessive down payment.

Joseph Vimarco, age 30, from Santa Barbara for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, requesting excessive down payment, and possession of heroin.

Heriberto Torres, age 46, from Ventura for contracting without a license, advertising without a license, and requesting excessive down payment.

The Santa Barbara Police Department and the Contractors State License Board recommends that consumers obtain three licensed bids for any contracting work, check references, verify the identity of the person who is giving the bid, and never pay more than 10 percent down or $1000, whichever is less. In addition, a contractor’s license can be verified through the State Contractors License Board. A 24 hour number is available to verify license status 1-800-321-2752.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On Monday February 2, 2009 at approximately 4:03 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Figueroa Street and De La Vina Street on a call of a bus versus pedestrian traffic collision. Upon arrival officers realized that the 67 year old male victim had suffered significant injuries. The victim was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he was listed in critical condition. At approximately 11:09 p.m., the victim succumbed to his injuries. The victim’s name is not being released at this time due to notification of next of kin.

The Santa Barbara Police Department Critical Accident team was called to the scene. The investigation indicated that the victim was crossing De La Vina Street when the MTD bus made a left turn off of Figueroa Street onto De La Vina and struck the victim. The investigation is still continuing as to the cause of the collision.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 02/02/08 the Santa Barbara Police Department began utilizing an electronic system to monitor parking enforcement. The system named “autoChalk” is manufactured by Tannery Creek Systems, Inc. of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. The system utilizes photographic, laser, and GPS orientation to identify parking violators. This system is currently installed on one of ten parking enforcement vehicles.

The autoChalk system utilizes color photographs to provide proof of an offense. These photographs are coupled with the system’s unique technology to determine vehicle length, vehicle color, and survey quality GPS positioning. The system utilizes this information to determine the length of time a vehicle has been parked at a specific location. AutoChalk prompts the Parking Enforcement Officer that a violator has been identified so the officer can issue a citation. This system can be operated in inclement weather which further enhances the efficiency of parking enforcement.

In 2007 the Santa Barbara Police Department requested proposals from vendors utilizing this and similar technology in an on-going effort to reduce serious and repetitive stress injuries associated with traditional tire chalking methods. The autoChalk system permits Parking Enforcement Officers to electronically identify violators from the safety of their vehicle while traveling with the flow of traffic.

The autoChalk system also possesses license plate reading technology to identify habitual parking offenders and stolen vehicles through the California Law Enforcement Terminal System, (CLETS). The autoChalk system, which costs $60,000, was paid for partially through auto theft grant funds as well as salary savings from unfilled positions in the Parking Enforcement Unit. The Santa Barbara Police Department will continue to use traditional chalking methods in addition to the autoChalk system.

The Santa Barbara Police department is committed to providing a safe environment for its employees while continuing to provide efficient and effective parking enforcement for the community. If anyone has further questions on the autoChalk system feel to contact Sergeant Lorenzo Duarte at (805) 897-2332 or by e-mail at lduarte@sbpd.com.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 01/28/09 many gathered to honor Santa Barbara Police Department?s finest. The Santa Barbara Police Department held their annual Employee Recognition and Reserve Officer Banquet at the Cabrillo Arts Center yesterday. This banquet recognizes full time Sworn and Non-Sworn personnel, as well as Reserve Officers for their outstanding performance throughout the year. Reserve Officers are not only recognized for their outstanding performance, but also for their countless volunteer hours to the organization. Reserve Officers are members of our community who have their own careers, yet decide to put themselves though hours of training so they can patrol the streets of Santa Barbara helping to keep them safe for everyone.

Reserve Officers recognized this year were:

Reserve Officer Howard Giles- Lt. R.E. Bond Award (most volunteered hours: 466)

Reserve Officer Colman Kwong- Top Gun Award (marksmanship)

Officer Rashun Drayton- Sworn Officer of the Year (Sworn Officer selected by the Reserve Officer Corps)

Employees (sworn and non-sworn) recognized this year were:

Sergeant David Henderson- Supervisor of the Year

Officer Douglas Klug- Sworn Employee of the Year

Nicole Hall- Civilian Employee of the Year

Pastor Charles Reed- Citizen of the Year

Lieutenant Ralph Molina- (Special Recognition for 8 years of service to the Employee Recognition Committee)

Every year Chief Camerino Sanchez recognizes individuals for their meritorious service. This year Chief Sanchez awarded the Chief’s Meritorious Service Award to those officers who had been activated and deployed by their Guard or Reserve units to Iraq or Afghanistan. Those recipients were:

Officer Kevin Rhyne, Major, United States Air Force Reserve

Officer Matthew Tonello, Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps Reserve

Officer Michael Lazarus, Staff Sergeant, United States Army Reserve

Officer Justin Cruz, Sergeant, Army National Guard (Awarded via satellite. Officer Cruz is currently serving in Iraq.)

This year the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve awarded Chief Camerino Sanchez the Patriotic Employer Award for his support of those officers activated and deployed due to the Iraq War.

The Santa Barbara Police Department would like give special thanks to Mr. Ralph Ianelli, Mrs. Louise Cruz, The Santa Barbara Police Officers Association, and The Santa Barbara Police Managers Association. Without their support this event would not have been possible.