Police blotter — December 29

By DAILY SOUND STAFF — Dec. 29, 2009

Dec. 17, 3:47 p.m. — An officer on patrol along the 200 block of E. Figueroa Street spotted a brown 1981 Oldsmobile traveling at a high rate of speed and noted the vehicle did not have a rear license plate. After pulling the vehicle over, the officer spoke with the 19-year-old man behind the wheel and quickly noticed a 6-inch knife near his hip.

Asked to explain, the driver said he has problems with the Westside gang. The officer asked the teenager to step out and patted him down, a quick search that turned up a pair of brass knuckles in his pocket. The suspect said he has carried weapons since being beat up by gang members. Police searched his vehicle and found a stash of weapons in the trunk.

Among the seized items were eight pellet handguns, a machete, a baseball bat, a brick, four shotgun shells, a tire iron, a wooden club, a hammer, a hacksaw and four large knives — all of which were found in an open suitcase.

Officers also turned up a ski mask, black gloves, binoculars, a bandana, a radio, and a global positioning satellite, or GPS, system. The 19-year-old reportedly admitted being associated with the Eastside gang and said he spent the night prior with several gang members.

Authorities booked the suspect for possession of dangerous weapons and participation in a criminal street gang. Bail was set at $100,000.

Dec. 21, 10:20 a.m. — Security agents at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport called police after discovering several weapons in the baggage of a 52-year-old man. The suspect had a butterfly knife with a 5-inch blade and three weighted throwing knives with 3-inch blades.

The 52-year-old said he had forgotten that the knives were in his bags and admitted he knew the weapons were illegal. He told police he purchased the butterfly knife years ago while in the Navy and bought the throwing knives in Japan.

Authorities took the suspect into custody for possession of dangerous weapons and possession of a switchblade knife. Bail was set at $20,000.

Dec. 22, 12:15 p.m. — Police made three arrests in connection with two thefts at the Billabong Store, 631 State St. On Dec. 21, two suspects, later identified as a 19-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, entered the store.

The man headed directly to the front display, cut a security sensor from a skateboard and left the store without paying for the item. Meanwhile, the woman stood nearby and held up shirts in an apparent attempt to conceal the actions of the other suspect.

Police reviewed security footage from the store and took down a description of each suspect. The following day, an officer that investigated the theft spotted the 22-year-old walking down the street and stopped him.

The suspect asked the officer if he was being detained because he tried to steal something from Smart and Final. The 22-year-old had apparently attempted to steal energy drinks from the store and was chased away, leaving behind a skateboard that matched the one that had been stolen the day prior.

The suspect’s girlfriend, the 19-year-old woman who had been involved in the skateboard theft, walked up and was subsequently taken into custody as well. While being questioned at the station, the 22-year-old lied about his identity for more than two hours, but eventually gave his true name and said he thought he had a warrant out of Colorado.

The suspect also told police that his friend had taken a skateboard from the Billabong store the same day and told him he should steal one as well. Officers caught the suspect in the other skateboard theft the following day.

In that case, a 19-year-old man had entered the store and snipped a security sensor off a skateboard as well. An employee called police after spotting the suspect sitting on a nearby bench. The teenager admitted stealing the skateboard and said it was at a friend’s house.

Authorities booked the 22-year-old man for two counts of burglary and providing false information to a peace officer; the 19-year-old woman for burglary; and the 19-year-old man for burglary. Bail was set at $20,000 for each suspect.

Dec. 22, 1:55 p.m. — Police took a 20-year-old man into custody after he assaulted and threatened his ex-girlfriend. During an argument on Dec. 13 at the victim’s residence, the suspect reportedly pulled her from the bathroom while she was wearing only underwear and restrained her on the bed.

The 20-year-old placed her arm and ankle in a control hold and threatened to break them. At some point, he brandished a Taser at the victim and said, “The only way to leave me is to kill me.” The victim also told police that the suspect forced her legs open and laughed when she asked if he was going to rape her, saying that he could if he wanted.

The suspect took away the victim’s phone and didn’t let her leave the residence until the next day. Several days later, he called her 27 times in the span of several hours. When the two met at a local restaurant on Dec. 18 to talk about his behavior, the suspect began yelling and shoved his elbow into the victim’s ribs.

The victim managed to climb out of the booth and leave the restaurant, but the suspect took her car keys and left in his own vehicle. He since had been leaving vague messages on the victim’s phone threatening her.

Authorities took the 20-year-old into custody at his place of work and issued an emergency protective order for the victim. The suspect was booked for false imprisonment, dissuading a victim and domestic battery. Bail was set at $100,000.

Dec. 22, 11:34 p.m. — Tipped off by an informant that drug activity was taking place in Room 32 at the Guest View Inn, 3344 State St., police knocked on the door and obtained consent to enter from the 22-year-old woman who answer. Officers quickly spotted a syringe on a dresser and determined no one in the room was diabetic.

Authorities searched the 22-year-old and found less than a gram of cocaine and heroin paraphernalia. After detaining the three occupants — the 22-year-old, a 31-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman — police searched the room, which was registered in the 22-year-old’s name.

Officers found 2.4 grams of heroin, less than a gram of liquid heroin, numerous syringes and burnt spoons. All three suspects admitted that the drugs and paraphernalia belonged to them.

Authorities booked the 22-year-old on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, in addition to booking the two other suspects for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $10,000.

Dec. 23, 6:54 p.m. — A disturbance at the Habit restaurant, 628 State St., brought officers to the location, where they spoke with the restaurant manager. The employee said a man had been harassing customers and took food from someone’s plate.

When confronted, the suspect pushed the manager and reportedly said, “I’m going to kick your f—ing ass.” The suspect, a 31-year-old man, then picked up a large bottle of Tabasco sauce, smashed it and threatened the employee with the broken bottle.

As the suspect walked away, the manager followed him and directed officers to his location in a nearby parking lot. Authorities booked the 31-year-old for brandishing, disturbing the peace, battery and providing false information to a peace officer. Bail was set at $2,500.

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Young and Dangerous! : 12/29/2009

I'm amazed, so many social programs and nothing seems to be working, young latino gangmembers should go after "neo-nazis" and not themselves, ANGER and HATE is the result of many years of racism, what happened to the blacks?

Mario Rubalcaba

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Unbelievable. : 12/29/2009

Here we go again.... The previous poster is merely trying to start another week of back and forth nonsense. Doesn't anyone else get tired of these trite sophisms? Please try to refrain from participating in weekly and tiresome thread about race on the police blotter. I know you can do it.

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He is only 19 : 12/29/2009

Couple of years locked up, enough time to think about the future

SB Reader

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To Young and Dangerous : 12/29/2009

A literate person with 4th grade reading skills would have noted that RACE was never mentioned in the above article. There is nothing to indicate the suspects race. There is much, however, to indicate that there are plenty of ignorant, uneducated, loudmouths and KKK wannabes willing to spew racist venom in order to stir things up. Since you're so good at posting online drivel, perhaps you can take an online reading course as well.

M.Miller

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I'M BACK! : 12/29/2009

All I can say is WOW!!!!!! The more things change the more things STAY the same.
Anybody miss me?

'THE GRAVEN'

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S.B. Gang Problem : 12/29/2009

Andy! Andy! Look's like we've got ourselves a gen-u-ine gang problem!!!!
Geeze 'Barn'... don't say it so loud...
Sure is a good thing that we don't have a gang problem here in Santa Barbara

S.B.Native

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Oh no! : 12/29/2009

WOW the lonely old republican man with no life is back!

Democrats rule this land

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homeless again! : 12/29/2009

the badgering by the homeless dimwits around the habit has been going on for years. when will they finally start enforcing the new laws and get rid of the scum that troll state street?

wowo man

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: 12/29/2009

My favorite part about this page is that the suspects almost always waive their rights and allow a police search and/or admit to a crime, and that's when they get busted. Stupid is as stupid does. Good thing, makes the police's job easier. Hope word doesn't get out about citizens' rights.

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: 12/30/2009

how about..... nice job police, thanks for keeping me safe, thanks for trying to stop gang violence.
Instead we get all the racist crap
just a thought

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Thank you... M Miller : 12/30/2009

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF !!!!

A REAL LOCAL

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WHERE ARE THE PARENTS OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS : 12/30/2009

wHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RAISING OF THESE KIDS ? THEY ARE 19 20 AND 21 .... RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO THEM IN THEIR INNOCENT AGES.... GOOD JOB TO THE WELFARE RECIPIENTS WHO JUST HAVE KID AFTER KID AND DO SUCH A GREAT JOB AT PARENTING.... THATS WHY THESE KIDS REACH OUT TO A GANG... NOONE SHOWS THEM LOVE. OR TEACHES THEM ANY LIIFE AND MUCH NEEDED SKILLS .... SO THE LEADER OF THE PACK EATS THEM ALIVE .... THEN BUILDS THEM BACK UP INTO WHAT THEY ARE NOW.... KNIFE CARRYING BANGERS.

A REAL LOCAL

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Dec. 17, 3:47 p.m. : 12/30/2009

ahhhhh I remember those days of smashing on your rivals. its all fun and games until someone gets caught! damn that 19yr old was over doing it with the trunk full of crap. maybe he will learn

former gang member

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You can read? : 12/31/2009

I didn't know that gang member could read. However, your grammar sure reassures me that you really can't.

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man behind a monitor lol : 12/31/2009

What a stupid idiot, go out to the street and ask the same dumm question and see what happens sissyboy! State street and Haley here you'll find all the answers you'r looking for sissyboy!

Ex gangmember who knows three languages

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Severe homeless issue : 1/1/2010

I work on State St and am constantly having to report incidents involving the homeless. As a young female it is very scary to be confronted by some of the crazies that roam Santa Barbara (not just the area around The Habit). Santa Barbara is such a beautiful place to live and it's a shame that more isn't being done to combat the issues that have created our large homeless population.

State Street worker

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Ex Gang Member : 1/4/2010

Hey "Ex Gang Member", You are a laughable piece of detritus. I would advise you not to espouse your literary capabilities because when you do you reveal yourself for what you are, "dumm" [sic]. It is also revealing of your character that all you can respond with is a threat of violence. You obviously are very limited intellectually and therefore must resort to your "skills" of pathetic violent intimidation. You are a weak human being and I pity you. You must really live a miserable life.

SV

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