Cops handle drugs, fights, drunks and thieves

DAILY SOUND STAFF REPORT

Another week packed with cases involving drugs, fights, drunk driving and theft kept Santa Barbara police busy.

May 15, 1:30 p.m. — Security guards at Macy’s, 701 State St., detained a suspect after watching him enter the store with a black trash bag, take 27 pairs of Levi jeans off a shelf and place them in the bag, and leave without paying. Security officers found the man, a 38-year-old Santa Barbara resident, outside with the bag and escorted him back inside, where they handcuffed him to a bench. Police said the man had no cash and admitted to entering the store with the intention of stealing items to sell later. Authorities booked him in lieu of $20,000 bail for felony burglary.

May 15, 6:20 p.m. — Police arrested a 40-year-old local woman after she started threatening and beating another woman at the Cabrillo Ball Field, 800 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Officers witnessed the woman punching the victim in the face and head, kicking her legs and pulling her hair. Witnesses said the suspect approached the victim, called her names, challenged her to fight and began hitting her when the victim stood up to defend herself.
Officers, after ordering her multiple times to stop, handcuffed the woman and placed her in a squad car, at which point she became verbally abusive and started kicking the rear window violently. When police opened the door, the suspect climbed out and laid down in the gutter, still directing threats and obscenities at officers and the victim. Authorities ultimately placed her feet in a hobble.
The woman then told officers she needed to be taken to the hospital because she had swallowed several balloons of heroin that she had intended to sell before spotting police. Authorities booked the woman, who has a lengthy criminal history, into jail on $100,000 bail for intimidation, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, battery and concealing evidence.

May 17 — Officers arrested eight people for driving under the influence at a sobriety checkpoint held at 400 Chapala St. Police also made one public intoxication arrest, five citations for unlicensed drivers, one citation for driving on a suspended license, one citation for violation learner’s permit restrictions and one citation for a seatbelt violation. Authorities towed a total of 14 vehicles.

May 17, 7:55 p.m. — Police arrested a 48-year-old transient woman for felony vandalism after she smashed her ex-boyfriend’s windshield with a chunk of wood, causing an estimated $500 in damage. Two independent witnesses identified her as the suspect.

May 18, 1:55 a.m. — Police conducting a DUI checkpoint at 200 W. Haley St. spotted two 23-year-old men, one from Santa Barbara and one from Buellton, walking away with eight orange traffic cones and a large “Road Construction Ahead” sign being used at the checkpoint. Authorities estimated the value of the stolen property at $900 and booked both men into jail for theft.

May 18, 6:40 p.m. — Security at the Santa Barbara County Bowl detained a 21-year-old Santa Paula woman after spotting her putting a bag of pills in her pocket. Authorities identified the pills as Vicodin, Xanax and ecstasy. Police also found 12.2 grams of marijuana, a marijuana pipe and rolling papers in her possession. She told authorities she had planned to sell the marijuana on behalf of her boyfriend, who had rewarded her for making the sale by purchasing her concert ticket. The buyer never showed up, the suspect said, at which point she opened the bag of marijuana and found the bag of pills inside. She admitted to using drugs and taking pills in the past. Officers booked her into jail in lieu of $30,000 bail for possession of marijuana and controlled substances for sale.

May 20 — Authorities released additional information about a 26-year-old Santa Barbara man who broke into a home in the 300 block of Ladera Street on Saturday, took off his clothing and threatened to kill the family inside before leaving, breaking into another apartment and holding a young couple hostage with a large knife until an officer arrived and was able to Taser and arrest the suspect. Police said the investigation revealed the man had used ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol during the previous night, leading to his behavior the following morning.