Vandalism, DUI and thefts fill blotter

Some stolen merchandise, DUI vandalism and a little lie keeps police on their toes in today's police blotter.

August 5, 8 a.m. — Using a electronic tracing system known as LoJack, police tracked down a laptop computer valued at $1,000 that had been stolen during a residential burglary. Officers found a 23-year-old woman in possession of the stolen computer in the 600 block of Pedregosa Street. The suspect initially said she had purchased it new before admitting a friend had given the computer to her. She identified a 31-year-old Santa Barbara man as the friend who gave her the stolen item.
Authorities found the man later that day in the 300 block of W. Mission Street. Under questioning by officers, he admitted to buying the computer for $300 from an unidentified suspect who came to his apartment complex peddling stolen goods. He told police he knew the laptop was likely stolen and admitted to purchasing other items from the same man in the past.
Both suspects were arrested for possession of stolen property and booked into jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

August 6, 3:58 p.m. — A witness flagged down officers in the 500 block of State Street and reported seeing a man punch and break the front window of a business. Police found the 5-foot by 4-foot window broken as described and searched the area for suspects matching the description given by the witness. Authorities found a 23-year-old man with a prior history with law enforcement in the 600 block of State Street who matched the description.
The suspect admitted to kicking and breaking the window. He told officers he was upset over the death of a friend and was taking out his anger by hitting the window, adding that he did not intend to break it. The repair cost for the broken window was estimated at $525. Authorities arrested the man for felony vandalism after the witness positively identified him.

August 7, 10:40 p.m. — Authorities spotted a Chevrolet Malibu with Illinois plates driving north in the 500 block of State Street with six people in the backseat. Police pulled the vehicle over on Canon Perdido Street and found three women in the backseat sitting on the laps of three men. While speaking with the driver, a 22-year-old man identified by his Columbian driver’s license, officers noted he had bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol.
After he struggled on field sobriety tests, police arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence. Two breathalyzer tests revealed a .10 blood-alcohol content, over the legal driving limit of .08. Police attempted to contact the Columbian embassy that evening, but were not successful. Officers booked the suspect in lieu of $5,000.

August 9, 11:30 a.m. — Police arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of grand theft after crime scene clues led officers to him. On July 28, a Ventura man had parked his car in the 200 block of Anacapa Street, leaving his laptop, external hard drive and datebook on the passenger seat covered with a jacket, according to police reports. The victim believed he had locked the car, but discovered the items missing with no signs of forced entry when he returned two hours later.
Crime scene investigators combed over the scene and found shoe prints in the dirt near the passenger side door. Investigators also lifted two fingerprints from the hood of the car. A search of the fingerprint database turned up a match with the 18-year-old suspect, who was homeless and unemployed at the time.
Officers tracked him down in the 200 block of Figueroa Street and noted his shoes matched the prints left at the scene. Under questioning, the suspect admitted to stealing the items. Police booked him in lieu of $20,000 for grand theft.

August 10, 1:35 a.m. — A Santa Barbara man who told police two suspects had hit him with a claw hammer in an unprovoked attack turned out to be bending the truth a bit. Authorities arrived at a home in the 700 block of Quarantina Street after the 51-year-old man called to report two men who live at his residence had attacked him.
The alleged suspects, found outside the home, told officers a different story.
They said they arrived home to find the man had moved their belongings to a field across the street. When they found the 51-year-old, he unleashed verbal abuse before retrieving a baseball bat and taking swings at them.
The suspect reportedly got in approximately 10 swipes before one victim managed to grab a hammer and block the blows. The suspect apparently hit his hand on the hammer during the altercation, causing a small laceration.
Authorities took the man to the hospital for treatment before booking him on $30,000 bail for assault with a deadly weapon.