Santa Barbara police arrested a 33-year-old man after discovering he had been taking photographs and videos of women in public, including shots up their skirts, for at least two months, authorities said.
Sijifredo Sotelo is suspected of obtaining a photo for sexual gratification without consent, in addition to resisting arrest. He was taken into custody on Wednesday after a victim reportedly caught him in the act, police officials said.
At 10:43 a.m., the 27-year-old victim arrived at the police station to report a sexual battery that had occurred at the intersection of Chapala and Figueroa streets. She told officers that she had noticed a man with a bicycle following her as she walked along State and Figueroa streets before reaching the crosswalk at Chapala Street.
“The victim then felt a slight bump at her thighs and realized that her skirt had been lifted,” according to a news release from the Santa Barbara Police Department. “She turned and saw Sotelo holding a camera.”
The suspect immediately fled on his bike, but not before the victim took down details of his description. Police began looking for a man wearing a black “workout” shirt, red mesh shorts and a baseball cap.
When an officer spotted a man matching that description near the intersection of State and Carrillo streets, he attempted to detain him. But the man, after looking at the officer, fled on his bicycle eastbound on Carrillo Street, according to police reports.
Authorities eventually detained Sotelo near Anacapa and Padre streets. A search of his property revealed numerous photographs and videos of women in public, police officials said.
“Some of these photographs and videos depicted ‘upskirt’ shots of females,” according to the news release. “The investigation revealed that Sotelo had been involved in this type of activity for approximately two months.”
Footage obtained by officers appeared to focus on the legs, buttocks and feet of women as they walked along the State Street area during the day, according to police records, which indicated that authorities had discovered approximately 10 “upskirt” shots of victims who have yet to be identified.
Any possible witnesses or victims are urged to call Det. Corina Terrence at 897-2335. Due to the ongoing investigation, authorities did not release a photograph of Sotelo, who is being held on $2,500 bail.
another nabbed : 7/10/2009
our police dept. is getting better and better. soon they will make the correlation that it's mostly the illegals and sanchez is going to quit filling his pie hole with burrittos and false imprisonment go for it. his cousins cause 90% of our felonies. yes it is the mesicans not the spanish or the english other than a few drunks that cause all the problems. what amazes me, is that they have been allowed to take all the jobs away from single moms and students etc. and still have time to learn how to operate a camera.
mauuel labora
: 7/10/2009
LOL thats sum funny s---!...... I bet the cops had funy with the pics and the video footage
SB local
: 7/10/2009
*fun*
What!? : 7/10/2009
Manuuel (sp?) the comments your made are idiotic!! Learn how to spell and maybe someone will take you seriously. Mesicans, it's spelled Mexicans. You can continue to blame the woes of Santa Barbara on the "illegals" but I am sure if you were a single mom or student you would not want to do landscaping work, back kitchen work, or pick out in the fields. Goods and services would cost more if it weren't for the labor they provide, are you ready to put out extra money for just about everything you buy?? Didn't think so, so shut up!!
Luv SB
what? : 7/10/2009
how many ag jobs are in SB anyways? less than 20 years ago, all of the busboy. dishwasher, car wash jobs were handled by HS aged kids. not anymore. and MESICANS is a joke about how mexicans talk. just like calling them the Doydgers, and not the dodgers. as a hispanic person, I find it humorous. just like carlos mencia would. Jason Marquez
KJEEsucks
I'm ready : 7/10/2009
I'm ready to pay more for the things I buy than have these illegals running rampant through our community. The argument is always labor this, labor that. Well, guess what? Chicken butt.
What? : 7/10/2009
How does this have ANYTHING to do with civil offender immigrants? There is nothing to indicate that this person is not a US citizen. The first comment is nothing but racist garbage that makes assumptions about the perpetrator based on their name. Trolls.
Get over it.
Here we go again... : 7/10/2009
Listen up...the illegals (undocumented individuals for the liberal SB/PC) ,cost of of us millions if not billions here in California (Mexico Norte). Anyone out there understand that the State is BANKRUPT? Who make up the majority of the student population in California? the sons and daughters of illegals... We are the ONLY country in the world that has this antiquated law that allows aliens to give birth to childeren and they automatically become "citizens of the U.S." This entitles these offspring to attend our schools without the parents being "law abiding citizens" and in most cases, not paying their fair share of taxes if any at all. It starts from the birth of the child (taxpayer supported hospital bill), to the taxpayer supported public housing, food stamps (which are now convienient "debt cards" so they don't feel bad), to free breakfasts, and lunches.... Meanwhile, Mom and Dad are driving around without car insurance. Dad is driving an old pick up with his gardening equipment and accidently cuts the end of his finger off... He gets in his pickup and attempts to drive to the ER for free emergency care, but passes out hitting a telephone pole and damaging private property. Police and the ambulance show up. Cops see he has no DL or insurance. They cite him with a ticket and impound his non insured truck worth about $500.00. Ambulance takes him to the ER ($800.00 ride) and the ER treats him ($2000.00). $30,000 done to the power pole, $15,000 done to the house he ran into and who pays...? WE Do! This is an example of what happens DAILY in our once great State of California... Now, imagine the same scenerio with the average "Joe Citizen" who paid to have medical insurance for his family, pays every month for car insurance, pays his property taxes twice a year, pays to put food on the table for his family... His income is TAXED, not paid "under the table"... Who is smarter? Will the "media" EVER do a story on this epidemic we live with and are paying the price for???? In a word NO. It isn't politically correct. We have all been duped...
I'm tired of paying
go 'tired of paying'! : 7/10/2009
Hit the nail on the head, my friend. And i think it's safe to assume "Sijifredo" was not born in this country, let alone be a citizen. Now on to the next: I have experienced first hand the kind of scenario you describe. After visiting relatives here in town while a college student in SLO, I was making my way up the Nojoqui Grade when I was struck in the right front quarter panel by a drunk driver evading the law (five officers, actually). Come to find out he was an illegal immigrant with no license driving his sister's car, the pursuit originating at Fairview. I would have had to pay the deductible if it weren't for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. But i guarantee you those repair costs were passed on to every other person who pays for car insurance in this state. That being said, there are those who come to this country legally, get legitimate jobs, and teach their children both english and spanish. The problem is, these upstanding citizens who actually embody what this country was founded upon are outnumbered 10 to 1. Thus is what every poster who reads a story about a suspected illegal immigrant is trying to get across. Because, unfortunately, more often than not, the perpetrator has a hispanic name.
sbdude
I agree : 7/10/2009
they should also deport that guy Hollywood to Brasil instead wasting our tax dollars...
Jon Bon Jovi
: 7/10/2009
I'm pretty sure I went to SBHS with this guy!
SB Alumnai
You guys are way off... : 7/10/2009
The real issue here is that this guy is a pervert. And those who know who this person is, also know that he IS a US citizen and never thought he would become something like this. This is a very sad and scary story, but should help us all to be more cautious.
Just another SB Local
omg : 7/10/2009
awesome
Racists Listen Up and don't make assumptions : 7/10/2009
You guys are way off... : 7/10/2009 I could not agree more with the author of this comment MORE HELLO... people that need mental health counseling come from all walks of life and citizenship statuses. I happen to know this young man and he is a US CITIZEN born and raised here in SB !!! Sorry to disappoint those who are playing the "why OUR money goes to them" Blame Game... this could be anyone's son, grandson, neighbor, friend, etc. Thanks you for listening and not generalize all the time.
listen up folks
Nobody cares! : 7/10/2009
Listen wankers. The bottom line is that we want the illegals out. NOW! All of them! Especially the MESCANS!
Whitey
>>> : 7/10/2009
Well, Whitey, why don't you post your costant whining about it on an article that has something to do with immigration rather than trolling for any random spot to vomit your blame game garbage about the scary "illegals".
anti-troll
I know htis guy : 7/10/2009
What the F@#*% happened... I blame it on the parents, they gave him everything. This guy was born and raised her in SB in a good home. Some peolple grow up and some don't...
007
illegals & crime : 7/10/2009
I agree that this is not related to the article. But here we are, a group of people wanting to discuss the issue, this place is as good as any. >> racist garbage that makes assumptions about the perpetrator based on their name. Trolls. I love it! Lets silence the messenger by accusing them with that great, horrible, monster: Racism! Sorry, folks, its not 'evil racism' when a particular democraphic actually causes more harm than other demographics. Thats just reality. I find it offensive that people keep pulling out the racism card on this issue. I love mexican people, and mexican culture - but I don't like the crime that is steadily slipping over the border along with the good-hearted illegals. We need to crack down on illegal immigration! (And maybe make legal, back-ground-checked immigration easier?).
k
Luv Anti-troll : 7/10/2009
Thank for that!!!
anti-troll fan
Nobody's whining except you : 7/10/2009
Racist this, cheap labor that. It's not racisim you nitwit, it's ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The key operative word here is ILLEGAL. I realize it probably hits too close to home for the majority of you to accept the fact that we don't want you here. I mean, you already set a bad precident for yourselves by entering the country illegally. No need to wonder what you'll do next... I don't care what the color of your skin is. White, black, brown, yellow, green, magenta, rainbow...if you're here illegally then beat it!
Wop wop bam bam
Until... : 7/10/2009
Until the white-liberal-guilt-ridden -non-Californian-natives stop calling "anti-illegal aliens" CITIZENS "racists" , the politicians and media will never address this issue (ILLegal immigration) that we are ALL paying for.. Yes, this article doesn't really have much to do with illegals other than the perpitratior was hispanic. BUT the posts prior regarding the costs of illeagal immigration are spot on... Our budget mess isn't due to Unions and State Union employees who pay taxes and put their money earned into the State retirement accounts; it due to all the social programs this State deals out to non citizens who are taking more than they pay... It's about the craddle to grave entitlements these illegals receive. Did you know an illegal alien can attend SBCC without paying tutition? Did you know there are no penalties for an Illegal alien driver with no drivers license or insurance when he / she causes an accident? Did you know that illegals without health insurance just go to the local ER and get FREE treatment, whereas you and I have to first produce an insurance card before being seen??? At least the illegals have a strong lobby within the state, take for example the local "CASA De La RAZA" which means "HOUSE OF THE RACE".. They will help any illegal walk through how to get the most FREE taxpayer supported benefits which are available to them.... From county/ city housing to food stamps. Nice huh?? YOU ARE PAYING SUCKERS! Again like the above poster mentioned, the "News Media" T.V.or Print media (Listening DAILY SOUND?) won't "report" or do investigative reporting on this issue because of pin heads like "listen up folks" and others who fall into the first sentence of this post. SUCKERS!
this sucks : 7/10/2009
they took over sbjh and consistantly bullied my son by stabbing him with pencils and calling him whitey. these are the new americans. they fly our flag upside down and smoke pot while thinking it's cool. little do they know that they are just adding to their existing lag. just like veron, lets get rid of them beofre they breed us out. my fried said that eve the 12 year old boys are pregnate.
i know judo
i know judo : 7/13/2009
funny story! LOL
local
wow : 8/12/2009
wow
wow
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