Nov
26
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/25/2009–Here is a sampling of criminal incidents handled by Santa Barbara Police Officers over the past week:
On 11/20 at 3:00 p.m., Officer Burleigh noticed a silver Jaguar with expired registration drive into a private lot at 300 S. Milpas Street and park in a position that blocked other drivers. Officer Burleigh drove into the lot, stopped behind the Jaguar, and walked up to the driver’s window. Officer Burleigh surprised the driver, Emilio Jacob Zamorano, age 34, in the act of smoking suspected crystal Meth: A crack pipe was in his left hand, a lighter in his right, and two bindles of suspected Meth in his lap. Zamorano was arrested for drug possession and parole violation.
On 11/20 at 3:40 p.m., Officer Radujko handled an embezzlement investigation at Sephora Store, 701 Paseo Nuevo. Store security presented evidence that a 3-year employee named Leo Cesar Ramirez, age 22, had embezzled more than $1,150 over the past four months. Ramirez was accused of ringing-up fraudulent returns, and crediting the cash value to his credit cards. Ramirez was arrested for Grand Theft Embezzlement and Burglary.
On 11/21 at 8:00 a.m., a City Parks employee discovered two large concrete planters tipped over and broken at Chase Palm Park, 323 E. Cabrillo Blvd. The estimated loss for the pair was $1,500. Officer Larson investigated: He contacted a group of homeless people who frequently camp behind the structure. Two of them witnessed the vandalism: Just after daybreak, a man who appeared “angry” walked through the area, tipping over numerous trashcans. Shortly thereafter, Officer Larson detained James Derek Tabor, age 39, who matched the suspect description and was walking in the immediate area. The two witnesses made a positive identification. Tabor was booked for felony vandalism.
On 11/21 at 11:05 a.m., Officer Hall investigated a fraud scheme commonly called a “Pigeon Drop”. A Spanish speaking man was approached by the suspect, who told this story: A “Coyote” was helping his mother cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The Coyote demanded cash and would not take a check. The suspect asked the victim to help by cashing the check. The victim wanted to help and agreed to cash the check. A third person (co-suspect) joined them, and also agreed to help. The suspect asked the victim and co-suspect for cash as a sign of “good faith”, and so they wouldn’t cash the check and keep the money. The co-suspect agreed and handed over his wallet. Upon seeing this, the victim handed over his wallet. The victim went into a store to cash the check and tore open the envelope. To his dismay, the envelope only contained a bank deposit slip. Meanwhile, the two suspects fled with his wallet which contained $1,200 cash. The victim described the suspects as: A Hispanic male, 40 years, 5 ft, 5 in, w/ several days beard growth; and a White male, tall, with green eyes.
On 11/21 at 7:30 p.m., Officer Lazarus handled a disturbance at a residence in the 2100 block of Red Rose Lane. A neighbor reported frequent disturbances at the residence. Police determined that Kellie Lynn Villa, age 31, had struck a male in the head with a vodka bottle. She was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
On 11/21 at 2:45 p.m., Officer Hall was checking a transient encampment adjacent to the freeway at lower Milpas Street. He arrested Kathleen Young, age 42 for probation violation. Hidden in her underclothes were two syringes containing suspected heroin. A drug possession charge was added.
On 11/24 at 2:30 p.m., an unknown suspect exposed himself to a woman near McKinley School, 350 Loma Alta. The woman was walking up the paved walkway from Coronel St. to the school when she encountered a man exposing himself. The woman reported the incident to the school principal and called police. Officer Tudor investigated. The woman described the suspect as a Hispanic male, mid 50s, 5 ft 4 in, thin build. He wore sunglasses, a green shirt, faded jeans, black shoes, and had no facial hair. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective LaTorre at 897-2335.
On 11/24 at 12:00 midnight, officers responded to a report of prowlers in the area of 600 E. Micheltorena Street. A citizen reported two men with a flashlight lurking in a neighbor’s driveway checking a parked car. The citizen went outside to scare off the suspects and called 911. The suspects fled up Olive Street, but were detained by police at 500 E. Valerio Street. Between them the two men had: A flashlight, gloves, a screwdriver, and a Ford key from an unknown vehicle. The citizen made an in-field identification. Officer Castro arrested Jose Perez Godinez, age 23, and Antonio Rendon Vasquez, age 18 for: Prowling, Vehicle Tampering, and for Vasquez, Possession of burglary tools.
Nov
24
ARRESTS OF WEAPONS AND PEEPING SUSPECTS: Two Incidents Keep Police Busy
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/19/2009–In the last few days, Santa Barbara Police officers were kept busy with the arrests of two men stemming from a weapons case and a Peeping Tom case:
On 11/18/09 Detectives from the Youth Services Section went to the residence of Jose Javier Torres, age 18, in the 1st block of South Voluntario Street, for a warrant stemming from a DUI case. Before knocking at the door, the detectives saw a police-style metal baton lying inside a window sill. Because this appeared to be an illegal weapon to possess, the detectives backed up, returned to the Police Station, and obtained a search warrant. At 5:00 p.m., detectives returned to the residence and arrested Torres for the original warrant. They recovered the baton and a fully loaded Glock 10mm handgun hidden under Torres’ mattress. Included were two additional fully loaded magazines and a holster. The gun’s serial numbers had been obliterated. The baton appears to belong to the U.S. National Parks Service. Detectives are investigating how Torres came to possess these items. Detective Feller arrested Torres for possession of a firearm with an altered/removed serial number, possession of the baton weapon, and for the DUI related warrant.
In the second case, on 11/19/09 at 4:24 a.m., a citizen living in the 1600 block of Bath Street called 911 to report a subject prowling in the next-door neighbor’s backyard. Officers Eccles, VanEyck and Lombardo coordinated a stealth approach from both the north and south. They arrived to find a man standing up on a garbage can, peering through a window into a woman’s residence. The officers arrested the suspect without incident. He is identified as: Antonio Velez, age 30, from Oxnard. He was booked for 647(i) PC, Peeping Tom. Velez’s photo will not be released at this time because detectives are investigating other reported cases of prowlers and peepers in the area.
Nov
18
WEEKEND WRAP-UP: The Week’s Activity
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–Attached are accounts and descriptions of several incidents handled by Santa Barbara Police personnel this past week:
On 09/08/09 a 23-year-old woman reported her wallet stolen while she was riding the bus. In her wallet was an ATM card with the PIN written on a piece of paper. The same day, unauthorized withdraws were made on her account. Officer Thompson investigated: The withdraws were all made in SB, mostly along the Milpas Street corridor. Several were made at Crown Liquor at 2 N. Milpas Street. Officer Thompson obtained security video photos showing the suspect making withdraws. The store clerk recognized the suspect as a frequent customer who had recently applied for a job. Armed with the suspect?s name and current address, Officer Thompson had no problem locating the suspect: On 11/09 at 7:55 a.m., Officer Thompson arrested Terrence Foulk, age 38, for Burglary, Fraudulent use of an ATM card, and Parole Violation.
On 11/09/09 at 12:00 noon, Officer Katsapis responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Cacique Street on a citizen call of a prowler. Upon arrival, the male resident (victim) was detaining the suspect, Simon Valadez Palma, age 23, by sitting on him. It turned out the neighbor who witnessed the break-in was the victim?s aunt. She called the victim at his workplace and then called 911. Accompanied by a co-worker, the victim returned home to find Palma walking away wearing his designer jeans and two of his shirts. The victim tackled Palma and held him until police arrived. Palma had entered the residence through a small side window. In addition to this theft, Palma admitted committing a theft to the same residence a few months before. In that earlier case, several changes of clothing were stolen. Palma was booked for 2 counts of residential burglary.
On 11/11/09 at 10:05 p.m., Officer DeJohn investigated 3 men in the parking lot of a closed business at 200 Helena Street. One man, James Gregory Contreras, age 40, was on parole and subject to search provisions. Officer DeJohn found a crack pipe in his backpack and a bindle of suspected Meth in his wallet. Contreras had a Trek 7.2 fx bicycle in the bushes; it was traced as stolen from a SB residential burglary committed in August 2008. Contreras was arrested for: Possession of stolen property, Parole Violation, drug and paraphernalia possession, and being under the influence of narcotics.
On 11/12/09 at 10:20 a.m., Officer Little responded to the Brooks Photography campus at 801 Alston Road on a call of suspicious circumstances. A week before, employees discovered a room dead-bolted with a lock that did not belong to the school. They forced entry and discovered evidence of someone living in the room: Clothing, hygiene products, damp washcloths, and other personal items. Today, they found a room normally unlocked that was dead-bolted from the inside. They heard noises, but no one would answer or open the door. When Officer Little arrived, employees forcibly removed the lock and out came the suspect: Michael Othello Shirley, age 40. Shirley said he has been secretly living at the school for 3 weeks. He was arrested for vandalism and trespass.
On 11/12/09 at 3:00 p.m. Detective Hons arrested Julio Armando Solano for forging and cashing two payroll checks for $575. The employee payee had reported his 2 checks missing from his workplace at a De La Vina Street restaurant. From that point, it was easy to trace the checks as deposited into Solano?s personal bank account. Solano gave conflicting accounts about how he obtained the checks, but there was no mistake about the consequences: he was booked for 2 counts of forgery, burglary, conspiracy, and grand theft.
On 11/15/09 at 12:20 p.m., officers responded to Plaza Del Mar Park on an assault case. The incident involved homeless people who frequent the Park. According to witnesses, the incident began the night before when the suspect, Michael Robert Faber, age 24, was caught stealing a pint bottle of whiskey from the backpack of a woman transient. As a consequence, Faber was beat up by some of the men. Faber left the campsite, leaving his possessions behind. Today, Faber returned to retrieve his things. When Faber asked where his things were, everyone said they didn’t know, even though some of them did. Faber became angry and attacked three men, all of whom appeared to the officers to be intoxicated. Faber kicked and punched them all, inflicting minor injuries to their heads and upper body. Faber was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (kicking with his boots.) One victim was treated at Cottage Hospital and the other two declined medical aid.
Nov
10
WEEKEND WRAP-UP: DUI’s and Drugs
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/9/2009–Here is the latest DUI enforcement by Santa Barbara Police officers over the weekend. Included is the arrest of a sleeping woman in a parked vehicle for drug charges.
On 11/6 at 4:00 p.m., Officer Ortega handled a minor injury traffic accident on Anapamu at Anacapa Street. Joshua Levi Bradbury, age 38, had been driving westbound in his 2001 Chevy Silverado pickup when he rear-ended another vehicle. Bradbury put partial blame on an unsecured Chihuahua-mix dog riding in his lap. Officer Ortega placed primary blame on Bradbury driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for DUI.
On 11/6 at 11:20 p.m., Officer Lazarus was on-foot at City Lot 10, 1st E. Ortega St., assisting Officer Palka with a pedestrian contact. As several vehicles slowly drove past, Officer Lazarus noticed one driver, Leon Jack Linley, age 55, who was not wearing a seatbelt. When instructed to put on his seatbelt, Lindley was unresponsive and looked ?dazed.? Lindley was stopped and arrested for: DUI, driving with suspended license, and no insurance. He was also arrested on a warrant out of San Jose for speeding, driving on a suspended licensed, and no insurance.
On 11/7 at 12:50 a.m., Officer Beutel of the Drinking Driver Team, stopped Jason Thaddeous Jewell, age 36, in his 2002 BMW, at 300 Castillo Street, for running a stop sign and speeding. Jewell was arrested for DUI.
On 11/7 at 2:00 a.m., Officer Beutel stopped Michael David Loza, age 27, in his 2002 Nissan, at 1600 Chino Street, for driving with his lights off. Loza was arrested for DUI.
On 11/7 at 8:15 p.m., Officer Palka stopped Maximillian Jerome Thorsdale, age 20, in his 1982 BMW at La Milpita for speeding. Thorsdale was arrested for DUI, failure to yield, and driving while under age 21 with alcohol in his system.
On 11/7 at 9:45 a.m., a citizen called police to report an intoxicated acting woman drive away from an eastside neighborhood. Officer Gaston located the vehicle driving erratically at Milpas and Canon Perdido Streets. He stopped Annette Lynn Coffee, age 41, in her 1985 Olds 98 sedan. Coffee was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription medications.
On 11/8 at 2:00 a.m., Officer Merrett stopped Artaud Nichols de Albeney, age 43, in his 2006 Chrysler 300, at 400 State Street, for speeding, then for not proceeding when a red light turned green. Albeney was arrested for DUI and possession of prescription medication without a prescription.
On 11/8 at 7:00 a.m., Officers Yee and Tudor responded to a check the welfare call of a woman in a vehicle parked at 100 S. Voluntario Street. The officers found Tanya Marie Atelian, age 39, asleep inside her 1997 Toyota parked with the engine running and lights on. It took a few minutes of shouting and window tapping to awaken her. Atelian had a crack pipe lying in her lap and a baggie of suspected cocaine in her pocket–she was arrested for drug charges.
Nov
6
ARRESTS MADE IN 2007 ATTEMPT MURDER CASE: Attack was Gang Related
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/5/2009–Back on September 20th, 2007 at 10:10 pm, a 17-year-old Westside resident was walking home alone after playing basketball with friends. A car pulled up and several young men jumped out and confronted the victim. Without provocation the suspects, each armed with a knife, suddenly attacked the victim. They surrounded him and stabbed him multiple times in the neck and torso. Leaving the victim for dead, the suspects ran back to their car and fled the area. Incredibly, the victim got up and staggered to his residence, located a block away. He collapsed on the threshold. Police and medical rescue responded. The victim was admitted to Cottage Hospital and treated for more than 30 separate stab wounds. This assault incident occurred during a period of frequent attacks by gang members/associates against their rivals. At the time, Detectives investigated but were unable to make solid progress toward solving this case. A year later, in the aftermath of the complex Operation Gator Roll investigation, avenues were opened toward solving this and other unsolved attacks. In this case, detectives obtained credible information concerning the identity of the attackers. After many hours spent checking leads and interviewing witnesses, detectives narrowed their focus to the primary suspects.
oN 11/4/09 SBPD Gang Detectives, lead by Detective Kushner, arrested three suspects in this case. All three were juveniles at the time, but the District Attorney’s Office has made the decision to direct-file charges on each suspect as adults. The suspects are:
Ruben Nicholas Mize, now age 17. He was 15 when the assault took place.
Carlos Rafael Lopez, now age 17. He was 15 when the assault took place.
Jacob Munoz Medina, now age 19. He was 17 when the assault took place.
Ruben Mize was already in custody on charges including the murder of Lorenzo Carachure. All suspects were booked for attempted murder and committing the crime to benefit a criminal street gang. Mize and Lopez will remain in Juvenile Hall until age 18; they will then be housed in County Jail. Medina was booked directly into County Jail. The prosecutor handling the case is Deputy District Attorney Hans Almgren.
Nov
6
TWO ARMED ROBBERIES: Bank of America and Machine Gun Deli Hit
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/5/2009–On 11/4/09 robbers struck at two local businesses:
At 5:00 p.m., a lone male suspect robbed the Bank of America at 1096 Coast Village Road. The suspect entered through the rear doors and loitered near the deposit slip counter. The suspect approached a female teller and handed her a robbery demand note for cash. The suspect claimed to have a handgun and simulated one with his hand. No weapon was seen. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect took the cash and fled out the back doors. The suspect was described as a white male in his mid-50s, height 5′ 5″; medium build, with grey hair and a grey goatee. This case is being investigated jointly by the FBI and SBPD detectives.
The second robbery was at the Machine Gun Deli, at 601 W. Mission Street. At 6:10 p.m., a suspect armed with a handgun confronted the clerk and demanded cash. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect took the cash and fled. He was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20’s, wearing black clothing and hat. Anyone with information on either of these robberies is urged to contact the Detective Bureau or the Watch Commander at 897-2355.
Nov
3
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/3/2009–Over the greater Halloween weekend, October 29 to November 2nd, eleven (11) drivers were arrested for suspicion of DUI.
On 10/29 at 11:50 p.m., Officer Beutel, who works Drinking Driver Enforcement, was parked in the 1000 block of Cliff Drive, talking with a guest who was leaving a nearby party. Another party guest, Brett Michael Wing, age 19, drove away from the curb in his 2006 Dodge Charger so rapidly that his wheels lost traction. As Officer Beutel followed, Wing drove down Cliff Drive at 55 mph in a 40 zone, then 45 mph in a 25 zone. Officer Beutel stopped Wing at 500 Cliff and arrested him for DUI. There were three passengers in the vehicle.
On 10/30 at 3:00 a.m., Officer Beutel stopped Gehu Rodrigo Gonzalez, age 25, in a Toyota Scion after he committed a right-of-way violation at 600 Anacapa Street. Gonzalez was arrested for DUI.
On 10/30 at 5:40, a citizen reported an erratic driver traveling north on Bath from Arrellaga Street. Moments later another caller reported the Toyota pickup had crashed through the large hedge and fence at the corner of Bath and Mission. Officer Merrett arrested the driver, Gabriel William Newman, age 31, for DUI, violation of probation stemming from a prior DUI conviction, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On 10/31 at 12:30 a.m., Officer Inglehart stopped Andy Jonathan Garcia Handall, age 28, in his 2003 Nissan Murano, at 600 Santa Barbara Street for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Handall was arrested for DUI. There was 1 passenger in the vehicle.
On 10/31 at 8:30 p.m., Officer Cipres stopped Jill Laughlin Johnson, age 40, in her 2004 Toyota pickup, at 1st E. Yanonali Street for weaving. Johnson was arrested for DUI.
On 10/31 at 11:40 p.m., Officer Ahrens stopped Juan Jose Espiriu-Rodriguez, age 30, in his Ford Taurus, at 1300 Castillo Street for swerving several times into the bicycle lane. Espiriu-Rodriguez was arrested for DUI.
On 11/1 at 12:25 a.m., Officer Corbett stopped Alberto Morello, age 46, in his 1995 Ford Bronco, at 1st W. Figueroa Street because the tail lights and brake light were not functioning. Morello was arrested for DUI.
On 11/1 at 12:30 a.m., Officer Beutel stopped Andrew Martin Olivera, age 29, in his Audi, at 300 W. Haley Street, for improper turning movements. Olivera was arrested for DUI and probation violation stemming from a prior DUI conviction.
On 11/1 at 1:35 a.m., Officer Klug stopped Brooke Danielle Meek, age 32, in her 2007 Honda Civic, for running the red light at Cliff and Meigs Rd. and for speeding. Meek was arrested for DUI.
On 11/1 at 3:30 a.m., a citizen called to report following an erratic driver in the downtown area. Reportedly, the suspect vehicle was running red lights and driving without lights on. Officer Beutel located the Chrysler 300 and stopped it at 1st W. Gutierrez Street. The driver, Rim Berhane, age 22 was arrested for DUI. There were 3 passengers in the vehicle.
On 11/2 at 1:35 a.m., Officer Klug stopped Christopher Alan Jennell, age 27, in a Toyota Camry, at 2300 Cliff Drive, for twice swerving over the double yellow line. As the Toyota was pulling over, the tires scraped hard against the sidewalk. The car made a slow U-Turn, pulled over again, and again the tires scraped hard against the sidewalk. Jennell was arrested for DUI and being an unlicensed driver. The owner of the vehicle was the passenger; she let Jennell drive because she had too much to drink.
The Santa Barbara Police Department continues to make DUI enforcement a top priority. Residents and guests to our City are urged to be responsible: if you drink, don?t drive.
Nov
3
Santa Barbara Police Commence Special Traffic Enforcement Program
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
SANTA BARBARA, CA–11/2/2009–More traffic enforcement and safer streets are coming to Santa Barbara beginning this month thanks to a recent $194,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. There will be increased special traffic enforcement measures are on tap for the Santa Barbara Police Department as law enforcement continues their commitment to keeping our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.
“Clearly, we take driving under the influence very seriously,” said Santa Barbara Police Chief Camerino Sanchez. “DUI is a preventable crime and arresting DUI drivers will save lives.”
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant is to assist in efforts to deal with increased traffic safety problems and reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. The grant activities will specifically target DUI Offenders, traffic enforcement, motorcycle safety and unsafe speed violations. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints, special enforcement operations and court stings where DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses get behind the wheel after leaving court. The grant also provides funding for overtime to conduct special enforcement activities.
Every driver and every motorcyclist must get back to the basics: drive sober, always drive or ride safely, buckle up and we will save lives. It’s just that simple,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “This grant will help Santa Barbara just that much safer of a place to live and work.”
New this year is the addition of special Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations. Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent statewide in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008. Santa Barbara Police Officers will be conducting specialized enforcement efforts throughout the course of the next year. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcycles. Officers will be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists, and other vehicle drivers, that result in far too many motorcycle collisions, injuries and deaths.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.