ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Lights & Sirens

The following is taken from the case logs of the Santa Ynez/Sol-vang Buellton Sheriff’s stations.

Sunday, June 29

Unlicensed driver — A 39-year-old Santa Maria man was cited for driving without a license at Avenue of Flags and First Street in Buellton.

According to the report, the suspect was contacted for an expired registration. He also had no proof of insurance. The non-English-speaking driver said the vehicle belonged to the female passenger who also spoke little English.

He was taken to Lompoc City Jail and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

Wednesday, June 25

Unlicensed driver — A 25-year-old Santa Maria man was cited for driving without a license in the 2900 block of Grand Avenue in Los Olivos.

According to the report, the suspect was contacted for driving without headlights on in a daytime lights section of Highway 154. The suspect gave a Mexican driver’s license. The suspect reportedly said he’d been living in California 11 years and had never been issued a driver’s license. He was cited and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

Public intoxication — A 27-year old Solvang man and a 35-year old Solvang woman were arrested on public drunkenness charges at Alisal Road and Molle Way.

According to the report, the suspects were contacted in an alley. The deputy reportedly saw the suspects fondling each other. The deputy noted the male suspect’s speech was slurred. He was also uncooperative and unable to give his personal information. He was worried that his girlfriend, who was nearby at a bar, would be upset with him for infidelity.

They were taken to Santa Barbara County Main Jail for release pending sobriety.

Public intoxication — A 40-year old Oxnard man was arrested on public drunkenness charge at the Chumash Casino Resort.

According to the report, the suspect had been arguing with a female customer. He attempted to retrieve his vehicle from valet parking, but the attendants reportedly wouldn’t give him the vehicle back because of his intoxication. The suspect was reportedly belligerent with casino security and threatened security and deputies to a fight.

He was taken to Santa Barbara County Main Jail for release pending sobriety.

Burglary — A 55-year-old man reported stolen tools from a gated storage area in the 100 block of Commerce Drive in Buellton.

According to the report, the unknown suspect(s) entered the storage area, possibly with bolt cutters, after cutting open a lock on the gate. The victim reported $5,300 in tools were taken from four containers.

Tuesday, June 24

Vandalism — A Santa Ynez Valley Charter School employee reported a broken window in the administration building.

According to the report, an unknown suspect smashed the 4-by-7-foot window, possibly with a rock. Damage is estimated at less than $400. A small rock was found on the ground under the window. A school administrator suspected a student who had been expelled, however, there was no evidence to link the former student to the incident.

Unlicensed driver — A 25-year-old Solvang man was cited for driving without a license in the 1000 block of East Highway 246 in Solvang.

According to the report, the suspect was contacted for swerving and an obstructed license plate.

The suspect was cited and released and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

Monday, June 23

Disturbing the peace — A 50-year-old Santa Ynez man was arrested on a disturbing the peace charge at the Chumash Casino Resort. He was also charged with public intoxication.

According to the report, the suspect was contacted by casino security in the buffet restaurant for being argumentative with staff. The suspect was reportedly intoxicated and threatened security officers to a fight.

The suspect was taken to Santa Barbara County Main Jail.

Conspiracy — A pair of 24-year-old men, one from Lompoc and one from Santa Ynez were arrested for conspiracy and several other charges following a traffic stop at Valley Dairy Road and West Highway 246 in Buellton.

According to the report, the Lompoc man was the wheel of a vehicle stopped for speeding at 50 mph in a 35 mph zone. The driver didn’t have an identification. The Santa Ynez man identified the driver by a name that turned out to be the name of a backseat passenger, a 21-year-old man. The Santa Ynez man also gave false information to identify himself as the backseat passenger.

The backseat passenger said he didn’t know the two other men were using his name. The driver also gave another name to another deputy that turned out to be false.

The Lompoc man eventually gave his real first name, but didn’t give any more information. He was found to be a parolee at large.

The men were taken to Santa Barbara County Main Jail and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days. The Lompoc man was also charged with giving false information to identify to a peace officer, giving false information, driving on a suspended license for DUI, driving at an unsafe speed and driving without insurance. The Santa Ynez man was also charged with giving false information to identify to a peace officer.

Sunday, June 22

Driving under the influence — An 81-year-old Buellton man was arrested on a drunken driving charge in the Arden Avenue/Valley Dairy Road area in Buellton.

According to the report, the suspect was also charged without a license and an unsafe lane change. The suspect was contacted after being seen swerving on West Highway 246. The deputy noted the suspect was “disoriented” and a “strong” alcohol odor on contact. The suspect admitted to drinking alcohol and couldn’t find his driver’s license.

Methamphetamine possession — A 45-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, a married couple from Carpinteria, were arrested on charges of methamphetamine and heroin possession on the Avenue of Flags in Buellton. Their young children were taken into protective custody by Child Welfare Services.

According to the report, the suspects were contacted after a traffic stop for failing to properly signal a lane change. While talking to the woman, the driver of the vehicle, the deputy noticed a syringe in her purse. The deputy noted her speech was erratic and she was “extremely” fidgety. She denied any illegal drug use. She later admitted to having used a stimulant two days earlier but denied the syringe was hers.

A search of the vehicle turned up a brown bag with meth, heroin and syringes. The man admitted to using meth four days earlier. He said that was the last time he saw his wife using meth. He said the drugs were either “old stuff” or neighbors had planted the drugs.

They were taken in separate vehicles to Santa Barbara County Main Jail.