Police Blotter

Lewd acts and sharp objects keep police busy in today's police blotter.

August 14, 12:25 p.m. — Police received reports of a man masturbating in public and found their subject as described, seated on the ground in the 100 block of W. Arrellaga St. While holding a pornographic magazine in one hand, the man had unzipped his shorts and was fondling himself in plain sight with his other hand. Officers took him into custody for lewd conduct.
During a subsequent search, authorities found suspected crystal meth in his wallet, along with a meth pipe and marijuana in his pockets. The man also had two outstanding warrants for disturbing the peace and vandalism. Police booked the 37-year-old Santa Barbara man in lieu of $10,000 bail for possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and marijuana, lewd conduct and his two warrants.

August 14, 9:50 p.m. — A police officer on patrol at Earl Warren Showgrounds spotted a woman running out of the shadows toward his squad car wielding a three-foot stick. The officer exited his car and asked the suspect to drop the stick. She refused, continuing to run toward the officer while shouting and swearing. He drew his Taser and ordered the woman to stop, at which point she lowered the stick, screamed profanities and ran off through the parking lot.
The officer climbed back into his patrol car and located the suspect several hundred yards away. After a brief struggle, he took her into custody. A search of her bag uncovered an ice pick with a 4-inch exposed blade. The suspect had no legal reason to carry the ice pick and told authorities it was for “protection.”
Police arrested the 41-year-old woman on $20,000 bail for possession of an unlawful weapon, brandishing a weapon and resisting arrest.

August 15, 1:14 a.m. — Officers dispatched to the 400 block of E. Anapamu St. on reports of a suicidal subject involved in a domestic dispute found a 47-year-old man holding a knife and challenging them to shoot him. One of the officers pointed a Taser at the suspect and ordered him to drop the knife.
After the man repeatedly refused, the officer deployed his Taser, causing the suspect to fall to the ground. As authorities moved in to handcuff the man, one of two dogs that reside at the home attacked them. During the struggle with the animal, a Boxer mix, an officer drew his service pistol and fired a round, forcing the dog to retreat.
The dog sustained a grazing wound to the left side of its head and survived. Animal control workers took both dogs into custody. One officer suffered a minor bite wound on his leg and another had bite marks on the heel of his boots. The dog also jumped up and attempted to bite an officer’s arm, but he was able to dodge the attack.
A criminal history check of the 47-year-old man revealed he is currently on parole for domestic battery. After being treated at Cottage Hospital for a possible neck injury, the suspect was booked for domestic battery, brandishing a knife, resisting arrest and violating parole.

August 15, 6:20 a.m. — Police tracked down a suspected thief after two people reported having items stolen in the 4000 block of Primavera Road. At 3:11 a.m., authorities received reports of an auto burglary and found one car burglarized and another theft victim. A witness told officers she saw a silver 4-door vehicle stop in the middle of the street. One man sat in the driver’s seat as another smashed the window of a nearby car before they both fled.
The theft victim reported having a red bag with three tennis rackets, a sweatshirt and an iPod stolen. The vehicle burglary victim noticed a CD case with 200 CDs was missing — replaced with a large rock tossed through the window into the backseat.
Authorities patrolled the area and spotted a 4-door silver Buick in the 300 block of Verano Drive. A quick peek inside the car revealed three tennis rackets matching the description of the stolen sporting equipment in the backseat. Officers spoke with the owner of the vehicle, who consented to a search of his apartment and admitted to having stolen goods.
Authorities found credit cards, documents and IDs in several purses under the suspect’s bed that didn’t belong to the initial theft victims. Police recovered the stolen iPod as well. The 35-year-old Santa Barbara man was arrested on $20,000 bail for possession of stolen property.