Sep
29
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/28/2009 – Santa Barbara Police Officers arrested 16 drivers for DUI this past week:
On 9/22/09 at 11:10 a.m., Officer Klug stopped Michael Thomas Zois, age 52, in a 1983 Porsche, on Dolores Drive for an equipment violation. Zois was arrested for DUI with a .11 B.A.
On 9/24/09 at 12:25 a.m., Officer Beutel of the Drinking Driver Team (DDT) stopped Rajesh Sanjeeva Shetty, age 34, in a 2009 Nissan, at 1st E. Ortega Street for driving on the wrong side of the road and without headlights. Shetty was arrested for DUI with a .13 B.A.
On 9/24/09 at 1:30 a.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Thomas Joseph Grandsaert, age 22, in a 2006 BMW, at 500 Chapala Street for running a stop sign. Grandsaert was arrested for DUI. His B.A. level is pending from a blood sample.
On 9/24/09 at 10:15 p.m., Officer Hettema responded to a call of an intoxicated man getting into his light blue truck at Derf?s parking lot at Mission and De La Vina Streets. Officer Hettema arrived to see Michael Carl VanOrder, age 43, driving out of Derf?s lot in his blue Toyota truck. VanOrder was stopped and arrested for DUI with a .32 BA.
On 9/24/09 at 10:50 p.m., Sgt Marazita spotted a truck on Milpas Street start to drive the wrong way up the Hwy 101 S/B off-ramp. The truck corrected, but ran over some traffic cones. The driver, Jorge Luis Hernandez Valencia, age 26, was arrested for DUI, his B.A. is unavailable.
On 9/25/09 at 2:00 a.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Nathan Emile Starkey, age 30, in a white truck, at 200 State Street for speeding and throwing trash out the window. Starkey was arrested for driving on a suspended license, no insurance, and DUI. His BA is pending blood analysis.
On 9/25/09 at 2:00 a.m., Sgt. Hunt stopped Kevin David Cox, age 21, driving at 500 State Street in his 1997 Honda. Minutes earlier, Sgt. Hunt saw Cox walking downtown, staggering and looking intoxicated. Cox was arrested for DUI with a .24 B.A.
On 9/25/09 at 11:55 p.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Victor Javier Ruvalcaba, age 28, in a 2003 Chevy truck, at 1400 State Street for speeding and driving in the bicycle lane. Ruvalcaba was arrested for no valid license, no insurance, and DUI with a .10 B.A.
On 9/26/09 at 1:55 a.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Don Comelia Burress, age 35, in a 2005 Ford, at 1st E. Gutierrez Street for running a stop sign. Burress was arrested for DUI with .14 B.A.
On 9/26/09 at 5:55 p.m., Officer Hunter stopped Kenneth Norman Weber, age 51, in a 1987 Honda, at 200 Milpas Street for improper turn. Weber was arrested for DUI with .14 B.A.
On 9/26/09 at 9:50 p.m., Officer Cipres stopped Carl Shedden, age 58, in a 2002 GMC, at 600 E. Montecito Street for improper turn. Shedden was arrested for DUI; his B.A. is pending blood analysis.
On 9/27/09 at 12:35 a.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Andrew Loren Moel, age 27, in a 2005 Volvo, at 1200 Chapala Street for speeding. Moel was arrested for DUI with .10 B.A.
On 9/27/09 at 1:35 a.m., DDT Officer Beutel stopped Manuel D. Munoz, age 35, in a 1999 Nissan, at 300 W. Carrillo Street, for the equipment violation of a headlight out. Munoz was arrested for DUI with .08 B.A.
On 9/27/09 at 3:05 a.m., a citizen called police to report a man lying in the roadway at Summit and Rametto Rd. DDT Officer Beutel arrived and contacted Patrick Earl Patterson, age 58, who had been lying partially under his parked Corvette that was blocking the roadway. Patterson was arrested for DUI with .14 B.A.
On 9/27/09 at 11:00 p.m., Officer Wojciechoski responded to a loud party call at 900 Flora Vista. He stopped Michael Daniel Jones, age 19, in a 1993 Ford truck, for weaving and swerving. Jones was arrested for DUI with .12 B.A.
On 9/28/09 at 2:00 a.m., Officer Klug responded to a traffic collision in the parking lot at 2435 State Street. A Hyundai driven by Andres Samora Pelcastre, age 24, had crashed into a parked vehicle that slammed into a third. Pelcastre was arrested for DUI with .22 BAC.
Sep
29
PAROLE AND PROBATION VIOLATIONS
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/25/2009 – Due to a history of arrest and convictions, hundreds of Santa Barbara area residents are subject to the authority of State Parole and County Probation. Parole and Probation officers are directed to ensure their charges follow the law and other imposed conditions, such as: no alcohol use, or orders to stay away from protected people. While many parolees and probationers are able to turn their lives around to the better, many others slip into familiar, dysfunctional patterns that invite the intervention of law enforcement. Here is a sample of recent arrests by the Santa Barbara Police Department for parole and probation violation:
On 9/3/09, two men went to a gold dealer in the 1700 block of State Street. They presented for sale several heavy gold chains. The jeweler checked the gold content, weighed them, and offered $4,000. One of the men took the chains as though considering the offer. He then agreed to the terms and handed the chains back to the jeweler. What the jeweler did not realize is that the suspect switched the genuine gold chains for identical looking counterfeit ones. The jeweler re-weighed the chains but did not re-test them for gold content. To complete the transaction, the jeweler recorded the suspect’s driver’s license information, took his fingerprint, and handed over $4,000 cash. The suspects were long gone before the jeweler discovered the purchased chains were fakes. Detective Beecher investigated and determined the driver’s license info was as bogus as the fake chains. However, the fingerprint was genuine: It matched Alejandro Padilla, age 32. On 9/22/09 at 7:45 a.m., Detective Beecher arrested Padilla at his residence in Southgate, CA. A search did not turn up the genuine gold chains. Padilla was booked for grand theft and parole violation
On 9/22/09 at 8:20 p.m., a citizen called Police Dispatch to report that Linda Ann Martinez, age 53, was currently at Cottage Hospital. Martinez had a no-bail warrant for probation violation. Officer Castro went to Cottage Hospital, determined that Martinez was there and was able to be released. Officer Castro booked Martinez for the warrant.
On 9/22/09 at 4:40 p.m., Officers T. Johnson and Ahrens responded to a disturbance call at 500 N. Milpas Street. They arrived to find Ricky Paul Palazuelos, age 39, pounding on the window of his girlfriend’s vehicle. The girlfriend, Lisa Creary, age 31 was inside and appeared passed out. Palazuelos was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled drug and also Parole Violation. Creary was arrested for possession of and furnishing a controlled drug.
On 9/23/09 at 12:00 p.m., a suspect went into Rite Aid, 825 State Street, grabbed a boxed radio from a shelf, and ran out without paying. Two Rite-Aid clerks gave chase down State Street and through De La Guerra Plaza. The clerks lost sight, but soon spotted him running out of Radio Shack, 609 State Street, carrying a different boxed radio. Detectives Kushner and Feller were in the area and spotted a Rite Aid clerk chasing the suspect down the street. The chase ended at 500 State Street when Detective Kushner tackled the suspect, Salvador Montes Avina, age 46. The investigation determined that Avina stole the first radio from Rite Aid to help pay off a $100 debt. As he was being chased, Avina ditched the radio in bushes near De La Guerra Plaza, then eluded his pursuers. His undoing proved to be stealing the second radio from Radio Shack just as the determined Rite-Aid clerk and detectives were out front. Avina was booked for
burglary, committing a theft w/ prior theft convictions, and Parole Violation.
On 9/23/09 at 8:55 p.m., Officer Ahrens responded to a “check the welfare” of a man down on the sidewalk at 100 W. Canon Perdido Street. He found Craig Stephen Ast, age 39, intoxicated but otherwise OK. Like most other parolees, Ast has been ordered to abstain from alcohol. Ast was jailed for Public Intoxication and Parole Violation.
On 9/24/09 at 3:40 p.m., A Parole Officer called for assistance at the Grey Hound Station at 34 W. Carrillo Street. Officer Epstein responded and helped take Dann Conrad Oliver, age 54 into custody for parole violation.
On 9/24/09 at 4:30 p.m., Officer Gaston spotted Michael Joe Coleman, age 51, at De La Guerra Plaza. Officer Gaston knew that Coleman’s Parole Officer wanted him picked up. It seems Coleman had been released from prison a week earlier with strict instructions to contact his Parole Officer ASAP. Coleman failed to follow these instructions and was arrested for parole violation.
On 9/24/09 at 9:40 p.m., Officer Cipres responded to a residence in the 500 block of W. Gutierrez Street on a call of a trespasser in the back yard. The property owner reported repeat problems with trespassers despite giving warnings. Officer Cipres contacted Quinn Powelson, age 52, who had a $5,000 warrant for probation violation. Powelson was booked at County Jail.
Sep
23
WEEKEND WRAPUP–Thefts, Vandalisms, Extradition and DUI Count
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/22/2009 – Here is a sample of the more serious cases handled by the Santa Barbara Police Department over the past several days:
On 9/15/09 the manager of the Ross Store at 3965 State Street discovered $2,000 missing from the prior days receipts. A surveillance video showed the closing shift mistakenly leaving 3 money-bags on a register. Later that night, a member of the cleaning crew named Luis Nunez Rodriguez, age 23, discovered the cash. The video shows him wrapping the money bags with a floor mat and taking them from the store. On 9/16/09, when Rodriguez returned to work, police responded to investigate. Rodriguez confessed and led police to the money hidden in the company work van. It appeared that $500 cash was missing. Officer Klug arrested Rodriguez for grand theft.
On 9/17/09 at 8:30 p.m., a motorist driving at 1100 E. Quinientos Street approached a female named Aryze Gomez, age 29, standing in the street. As the vehicle drew along side, Gomez cursed and hurled a 40-oz beer bottle at the side of the vehicle. The motorist stopped and two passengers, male and female, chased Gomez down and held her for police. Gomez kicked one of her pursuers and threatened to have her “homies” get him. Officer Radjuko arrested Gomez for vandalism, battery, and witness intimidation.
On 9/17/09, Detective Vierra booked into SB County Jail, a suspect in a 13-year-old theft case. In 1996, (now retired) SBPD Detective Claycomb investigated a fraud case involving a home remodel scam. The unlicensed contractor, Timothy Ray Weaver, currently age 50, is accused of bilking a local resident out of $17,500 in cash and materials. Weaver went on the lam, but a felony arrest warrant was issued. Weaver apparently traveled up and down the State of California, trailing a growing number of arrest warrants for similar crimes: The City of Merced issued a warrant for 18-counts of Fraud, $200,000 bail; Orange County for Burglary, $20,000 bail; Bakersfield Police for Larceny, $37,500 bail; and Ventura County for violation of probation. On 9/6/09 Weaver was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona for all the California cases. He was housed in the Maricopa County Jail, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He waived extradition, paving the way for Detective Vierra to transport him back to Santa Barbara County Jail. Weaver said he spent most of the past 13-years in Kentucky.
On 9/12/09 Ventura Police investigated an attempted murder case in which a victim received gunshot wounds. VPD developed information that the suspect and suspect vehicle may be in the Santa Barbara area. On 9/17/09 at 5:00 p.m., Sgt. Baker spotted the suspect vehicle driving on the Westside. Additional officers assisted in a high-risk traffic stop at Bath and Carrillo Streets. Two women and a man were detained without incident. A loaded handgun was found in the vehicle. Officer Gonzalez arrested the male, Filemon Contreras Ramirez, age 29, for possession of a loaded firearm, providing a false name, and for parole violation. Ventura Police were notified and they are continuing their attempt homicide investigation.
On 9/20/09 at 2:10 a.m., a citizen called Police Dispatch to report suspicious noises coming from a neighboring residence. Police arrived at the residence located in the 500 block of Peregrina St. The officers heard glass breaking and saw Taylor Wayne Crow, age 22, inside the residence, hurling items to the floor. Police detained the intoxicated Crow without incident. The mostly vacant house was extensively vandalized with food smeared on the walls, food scattered throughout the carpeting, light fixtures broken, and more. The landlord was contacted: She does not know Crow and did not know why her house was targeted. Crow was unable to provide any explanation for his actions. Officer Lazarus arrested Crow on a felony count of vandalism.
On 9/21/09 at 1:00 a.m., an employee of the Wildcat Lounge at 15 W. Ortega Street saw Anselmo De Los Reyes, age 24, in the rear parking lot, trying door handles of parked cars. The employee recognized De Los Reyes as a patron who, earlier that night, was ejected from the Wildcat for being intoxicated. The employee confronted De Los Reyes and told him to leave. The employee then realized that his vehicle had been left unlocked. He quickly scanned its contents and noticed several items missing including his I-Pod, stereo faceplate, a $5 bill, and a pack of cigarettes. The employee ran to catch up with De Los Reyes, who dangled the I-Pod power cord from his back pocket. Sure enough, all the missing property was stuffed in his pockets. Officer Eccles arrived and booked De Los Reyes for grand theft.
Between 9/14/09 and 9/21/09, SBPD Officers arrested 11 motorists for driving under the influence (DUI). One 19-year-old was arrested for violation of “Zero Tolerance”: Being under age 21 and driving with any amount of alcohol in system. Another man was arrested for failure to appear in court on a DUI charge.
Sep
23
MAN ARRESTED AFTER ACCOSTING CHILD–13-year-old Girl Unharmed
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 9/21/09 at 6:00 p.m., a 13-year-old Santa Barbara girl was walking at 100 W. Mission Street. She was headed to the Daily Grind Coffee shop at Mission and De La Vina Street to meet her father for a ride home. As she was walking westbound on the north sidewalk, she noticed a 49-year-old, black male walking toward her. Something about the way he walked and looked toward her made the girl feel uncomfortable. As the suspect drew nearer, he walked in her pathway, and extended his hand toward the girl. Already feeling uncomfortable, the girl extended her palms toward the suspect and shouted, “Keep away from me.” The girl tried to side-step the suspect. He blocked her path, confining her against the building. The suspect asked the girl to go behind the building with him to perform sex acts on each other. The girl was blocked against the building for an estimated one minute. The girl was then able to side-step and get past the suspect. She ran to the Daily Grind, phoning her father as she ran. Her father met with her, called police, and provided a description. Officer Ahrens was nearby and located the suspect in the 100 block of West Mission Street. Under police supervision, the female victim identified the suspect. Arrested was Mohammad Makim Sayyid-El, age 49. Detective Mike Claytor handled the investigation. Sayyid-El was booked for sex crimes and parole violation; he is held without bail. On 09/22/09, the District Attorney filed charges of: Attempted child molestation, false imprisonment, and child annoying. Sayyid-El has lived in Santa Barbara off/on the past few years. His prior residence was Baltimore, Maryland.
Sep
22
On Saturday, September 19, 2009, Agents from the Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team (SBRNET), in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, (BATF), and with support from the Santa Barbara Police Department SWAT team, California Highway Patrol warrant service teams, Los Angeles Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, San Luis Obispo County Narcotics Task Force, Santa Barbara County Sheriff?s Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, served search and arrest warrants on 7 locations and 7 suspects within the City of Santa Barbara.
This successful warrant service resulted in the arrest of all 7 subjects and 5 additional subjects, accused of operating a criminal conspiracy to traffic in illegal firearms and narcotics, and was the culminating event in “Operation Apehanger,” a joint SBRNET and BATF investigation. During the course of this nine-month investigation Agents seized numerous fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles, as well as semi-automatic assault rifles with high capacity magazines, a stolen handgun, additional handguns with high capacity magazines, and several ounces of cocaine. “The type of firepower that these individuals were illegally manufacturing and selling is an extreme danger to every resident of this area. These are the types of weapons that the men and woman of our military face on battlefields in the middle-east and are the same types of firearms used in the cartel-fueled violence in Mexico,” said Christopher Shaefer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the Central Coast region targeting violent criminals that use firearms as their tools of the trade.”
In addition to the arrest of the primary suspects, today’s warrant service resulted in the recovery of 2 additional illegal assault rifles, as well as other illegal weapons and various amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal mushrooms, and marijuana. Agents also seized an illegal indoor marijuana cultivation which was located across the street from a local elementary school. The Santa Barbara Police Department’s SWAT team was utilized for the service of the arrest and search warrants at 510 Flora Vista, and 2015 Castillo Ave. #4, Santa Barbara, due to the suspects access to high-powered weapons and their potentially violent nature. Santa Barbara Police Chief Cam Sanchez said, “The Santa Barbara Police Department was proud to work with these other great agencies; taking automatic weapons off the streets and putting these criminals behind bars ranks amongst our highest priorities.”
The Attorney’s General’s, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement operates 48 regional narcotic task forces statewide. The Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team is a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, California Highway Patrol, Guadalupe Police Department, Lompoc Police Department, Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Barbara County Probation Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department, and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office. “SBRNET is aggressively cracking down on drug and gun dealers to make our neighborhoods in Santa Barbara County safer for families,” said Task Force Commander Ken Bambrick. “This was an especially important bust because the suspects were selling high-powered rifles and dealing dangerous drugs across the street from an elementary school.” The mission of SBRNET is to disrupt, dismantle, and diminish the flow of illegal drugs and their proceeds, in Santa Barbara County.
Arrested for numerous felonies were:
Thomas Edward Dominguez (Age:35 )
Charges: Possession of Cocaine for Sale, Child Endangerment, Possession of illegal firearms (machine guns), conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms, parole violation. Bail: No Bail due to parole violation.
Thomas Anthony Dominguez (Age:52)
Charges: Marijuana cultivation, possession of Stolen property, conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms, possession of illegal firearms. Bail: $250,000
Robert Maynez (AGE: 51)
Charges: Sales of cocaine, possession of illegal firearms (machine guns), conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms. Bail: $250,000
Alejandro Raya (Age 42)
Charges: Possession of illegal firearms (machine guns), felon in possession of firearms, conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms. Bail: $250,000
Virginia Highfield (Age 30)
Charges: Parole Violation, felon in possession of firearms, conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms. Bail: No Bail due to Parole Violation
Micah McCabe (Age 37)
Charges: Conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms, felon in possession of firearms. Bail: $250,000
Jose Farias (Age 47)
Charges: Conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms, violation of felony probation. Bail: No bail due to probation violation hold.
Jacob Farias (Age 18)
Charges: Conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms, Possession of burglary tools, marijuana cultivation.
Bail: $250,000
Michael Finerty (Age 26)
Charges: Possession of Illegal mushrooms for sale. Bail: $30,000
Keith Brown (Age 29)
Charges: Possession of marijuana for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, felony child endangerment.
Bail: $100,000
Chrysta Ramirez (Age 28)
Charges: Felony child endangerment. Bail: $100,000
The above listed subjects were all booked to the Santa Barbara County Jail.
Locations were search/arrest warrants were served:
510 Flora Vista, Santa Barbara
2505 Selrose Ave, Santa Barbara
350 Cooper Rd, Santa Barbara
416 Samarkand, Santa Barbara
326 E. Micheltorena, Santa Barbara
2015 Castillo #4, Santa Barbara
2311 White Ave, Santa Barbara
Sep
15
WEEKEND WRAPUP–Assault, Fraud, Loud Party, and DUI Arrests
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – 9/14/2009 – Here is a re-cap of some of the more serious incidents handled by the Santa Barbara Police Department:
On 9/11/09 at 3:15 p.m., a 51-year-old woman living in the 2100 block of Mountain Avenue was in her backyard when her dogs started barking. The woman walked toward a shed and interrupted a man rifling the contents. The suspect lunged and grabbed at her. As the woman backed away, the suspect tore part of her dress and slapped her. The suspect grabbed her arm, but lost his balance and fell. The woman picked up a hammer that was lying on the ground near the shed. She struck the suspect in the head. The suspect got up and ran away down the hill toward Portesuello Rd. The suspect was described as a White male, 30 years, shoulder length brown hair, a long beard, and wearing a green jacket. Police believe the suspect may have a noticeable head injury. Anyone with possible suspect information is urged to contact SBPD, 805-897-2355.
On 9/12/09 at 4:30 p.m., a man and woman went into Mi Fiesta convenience store 833 N. Milpas Street. The woman asked to cash a check for $471 drawn on the account of Select Staffing. She presented a Mexico ID card. The store owner accepted the check and gave her cash. He then remembered having received counterfeit Select Service checks in the past. Holding onto her ID card, the store owner told the woman to wait while he called to verify the check was good. Instead, the woman fled out the door followed closely by her male companion. The store owner gave chase, but could only catch the male companion and not the woman. Police arrived and the male companion claimed the woman was a complete stranger. The officer then found the male suspect also had a Select Service check, in the amount of $478. He also had a Mexico issued ID card matching the name on the check. Both his and the woman’s ID cards were counterfeit. In addition, hand written on the woman’s check was a phone number that matched a phone number hand written on the male suspect’s check. Faced with this mountain of evidence, the male suspect admitted that the checks and ID cards were all counterfeit. Although his identity has not been verified, the male suspect was booked at County Jail under the name of: Jose Luis Martinez, age 55, for charges of Forgery, Possession of a Counterfeit ID Card, Burglary, and giving police a false name.
On 9/12/09 at 11:45 p.m., police responded to citizen complaints of a large party in the 500 block of Flora Vista. Officers arrived and observed that loud talking and yelling could be clearly heard several houses away in all directions. Neighbors and police reports reflected that police have responded to loud noise and party complaints several times in the past two months. Police estimated there were well over 100 party-goers; most of whom in the back yard. In response to this chronic neighborhood noise problem, police officers closed the party and issued Disturbing the Peace citations to 7 men, all residents of the party residence, and all between 18 and 21 years old.
Since 9/9/09, SBPD Officers have arrested thirteen (13) people for driving under the influence of alcohol. One of these, David Nancarrow, age 55 was arrested on 9/12/09 at 6:50 a.m. after police noticed him driving on upper State Street with his high-beams on. His vehicle was towed and he was cited and released for DUI. Just several hours later, at 2:00 p.m., Nancarrow left his Riviera residence on a Vespa Motor Scooter. Within a couple blocks he drove over an embankment on Arbolado Road and crashed. He was transported to Cottage Hospital and admitted with moderate injuries. He was again cited and released for DUI. Police obtained evidence that his blood-alcohol level was higher this second time than the earlier DUI arrest that morning.
Sep
15
SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 9/8/09 Narcotic Detectives arrested two men for suspicion of possessing and selling illegal weapons. Seized were dozens of illegal weapons including brass knuckles, switch-blade knives, nun-chucks, pen-knives, and daggers. The arrests and weapon seizures followed an undercover operation that included illegal weapons being sold to an undercover police officer. The transactions were made under the cover of Pacific Paper Products, a legitimate business operating at 132 Garden Street #39. The arrested men include the business owner: Alejandro Francisco Domeno, age 44, and an employee, Efrain Castellanos Moreno, age 48.
The roots of this investigation begin with Operation Gator Roll, conducted back in October 2008. During the course of the investigation and hundreds of subsequent interviews spanning several months, intelligence on dozens of other criminal cases was uncovered. In this case, detectives received 2nd and 3rd hand reports of possible sales of illegal weapons. The reports included allegations that weapons were sold to and used by gang members during crimes of violence.
Within the last few months, an undercover police officer determined the business location, identified the suspects, and made several hand-to-hand purchases. Detectives say the suspects’ illicit business grew to the point where they maintained a display case of weapons with price tags and facilitated the purchase of other, more difficult to obtain weapons.
Sep
15
SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara Police kept busy during the Labor Day Weekend. Some of the more serious incidents include:
On 9/3/09 at 12:10 a.m., officers responded to an assault that just occurred at Bath and Montecito Streets. A 40-year-old male victim sustained facial trauma and was transported to Cottage Hospital. The injuries were classified as “significant” with a possible fractured jaw. The suspect fled the scene in a black Audi. Officers determined that the victim and the suspect were in a verbal argument/disagreement at the Neighborhood Bar, 317 W. Montecito Street. The suspect and his party went outside to leave in the Audi. As they were driving away, the suspect spotted the victim walking away. The Audi pulled over, the suspect got out and knocked the victim to the ground. Witnesses reported the suspect punching and stomping the victim’s face several times. Witnesses provided the description and license plate of the Audi. Officer Tom Eccles found the vehicle at the registered owner’s address at 900 block Nopal Street. He questioned the suspect and his companions. A witness arrived and identified the suspect. Officer Eccles arrested William Crawford Blackwell, age 31 for battery causing serious bodily injury. The charges against Blackwell were later dismissed after the preliminary hearing.
On 9/4/09 at 1:00 a.m., Raul Flores Rodriguez, age 37 was stopped at 600 Salsipuedes Street for running a stop sign. He displayed symptoms of alcohol consumption and was arrested for DUI. Because of 4 prior DUI convictions, he was charged with the more serious charge of felony DUI.
On 9/7/09 at 8:55 p.m., Brian Wilson Boyer, age 27 was involved in a traffic collision at Pedregosa and De La Vina Streets that caused injury to another person. Boyer displayed symptoms of alcohol consumption and was arrested for felony DUI causing injury.
Eleven (11) other drivers were arrested for misdemeanor DUI.
On 9/5/09, at 1:26 a.m. Officer Jay Benson and Reserve Officer Hernandez noticed the front doors to Metro 4 Theater were ajar. Suspicion aroused, they looked inside to see Tracy McKee, age 40, dart from the lobby to up the stairway. The officers called for her to stop and followed to search for her. McKee backtracked and slipped out the theater only to be caught by other officers. The investigation determined that McKee found the theater doors unlocked, entered, and helped herself to refreshments in the concession area. She apparently set off an audible alarm, but ignored it. Her good idea suddenly went bad when she spotted the officers. She unsuccessfully tried to escape by running upstairs, doubling back, and fleeing out the front door. When arrested, McKee has holding suspected stolen contraband from the theater; a cup of nacho-cheese. She was booked for burglary and resisting arrest.
On 9/5/09, at 1:30 a.m. Officer Beltran stopped Dennis Wayne Gibbons, age 52 in his Ford T-Bird at 700 Nopalitos for erratic driving and parking on the wrong side of the street. A passenger was holding an open 24-oz can of beer. A suspected crack-pipe was found on the floorboards. Gibbons displayed symptoms of alcohol consumption and was arrested for DUI and Parole Violation.
On 9/5/09, at 4:30 p.m., police responded to a fight in progress at Milpas and Haley Street. A 38-year-old man was admitted to Cottage Hospital ICU with significant head trauma: A laceration requiring six staples and sub-cranial hemorrhage. The suspect fled on foot. Witnesses described the two men fist-fighting when the suspect knocked the victim down and unconscious. The suspect continued punching the victim until pulled off by a passer-by. Officer Hall located the suspect, Patrick Curtis Cox, age 42 walking several blocks away. He had bloody knuckles consistent with the fist-fight. The investigation determined that both the victim and suspect are homeless and have fought before. Cox claimed the victim had broken his nose in a prior altercation. Cox was booked for assault causing serious bodily injury.
Sep
15
SEARCH WARRANT–One subject arrested for sales of marijuana
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SANTA BARBARA, CA – For the last year the Santa Barbara Police Department narcotic detectives have been receiving numerous complaints about marijuana being sold from a trailer at the Flamingo Trailer Park, 1210 Cacique Street. The citizens who complained were concerned that the occupants of the trailer, space 49, were using the trailer as a marijuana dispensary. The occupants advertised their business on the internet. After several weeks of surveillance and numerous complaints, the Santa Barbara Police Department Narcotic Detectives conducted undercover operations in the area. The occupant, Jeff Wood, age 32, and the owner of the trailer, David Dani, age 55, made sales of marijuana to undercover officers. Based on the investigation, a search warrant for 1210 Cacique Street #49 and arrest warrant for Jeffrey Wood was issued.
On 8-19-09, at approximately 11:45 a.m., detectives served the warrant at 1210 Cacique Street, #49. Present at the time was Wood and Dani. The inside of the trailer was set up like a store, which sold marijuana, marijuana edibles, and other marijuana paraphernalia. Approximately 2-3 ounces of marijuana, 40 marijuana plants, one thousand dollars and other evidence were seized. While on scene, two individuals arrived at the location wanting to purchase marijuana. Detectives spoke to both individuals and determined that neither of them had a medical marijuana recommendation. The investigation led detectives to believe that a majority of the individuals who purchased marijuana at this location did not have or present a medical marijuana card or recommendation. Jeffrey Michael Wood was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for Sales of Marijuana, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, and Cultivation of Marijuana. Detectives are also recommending that the District Attorney?s Office review the case and charge David James Dani with Sales of Marijuana.
Sep
15
SANTA BARBARA, CA – On 8/18/2009 members of the Traffic Section handed out 24 citations to motorists who failed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalk during a pedestrian crosswalk traffic enforcement operation this morning. At two different intersections on Tuesday a plainclothes officer worked with motorcycle officers to hand out the traffic citations. In the operation, the officer in street clothes started to cross the street, giving approaching motorist ample time to stop. If they failed to yield, then uniformed officers stopped them issued a citation. The operation was conducted where citizens have complained they had trouble crossing between the white lines: Calle Palo Colorado and State St. and Milpas St. and Ortega St.
It is the pedestrian’s responsibility that the motorist has ample time to recognize their presence. Once that is done, and they are in the crosswalk, vehicles have to yield until the pedestrian is all the way across to the other side. All pedestrians should make eye contact with a motorist and give the driver enough time to stop.
The police department would like to remind all drivers to be more alert, especially with the start of school next week when there will be children walking to and from school. Also, pedestrians should remember that the crosswalks are only painted lines on the asphalt and to not gain a false sense of security while crossing.
In 2008 and so far this year, there were 88 reported vehicle accidents involving pedestrians in the City of Santa Barbara. In those accidents there were 74 injuries and two fatalities.