Sheriff Department Identifies Man Found on Highway 154

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has identified the body of the man that was found dead on Highway 154, Sept. 17. He has been identified as 23-year-old Adan Cervantes Ruiz. A passing motorist found the body lying off the roadway on Highway 154, just west of Los Olivos, in a driveway of a ranch.

“We don’t have any specific theories as to what the murder was related to and the victim involved with,” said Sergeant Erik Raney, Public Information Officer.

“There have been a few people who know the guy, but not to any specific degree.”

It has been determined that Ruiz died as a result of a gunshot wound. According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department investigators believe that the crime occurred elsewhere and the body was dumped on the highway. 

The deceased did have a criminal record and had been previously arrested in Palmdale and Riverside.

Detectives are requesting anyone who has any information regarding the victim or the suspected homicide to contact Sheriff’s investigators at 805-934-6170.

County District Attorney Forms Adult Death Review Team

District Attorney Christie Stanley announced Sept. 19., that the County District Attorneys Office is forming an Elder Death Review Team, in the attempts to reduce incidents of abuse and neglect in the elderly population.

The review team will include the Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division, the District Attorney’s Office, county law enforcement agencies, the Public Health Department and Adult Protective Services.

“The end result will be a strengthening of the collaboration between each of the agencies and will serve to help to prevent future abuse of elder and dependent adults,” Stanley said.

The review team will also focus on increasing successful information exchange between all the agencies in order to improve and enhance the qualities of investigations into the deaths of elderly individuals.

“I wouldn’t say that we have noticed a particular increase in these sorts of crimes and issues, but there has been an increase in awareness of these issues and we are just trying to address them,” said Cynthia Nulman, of the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office.

The review team will meet once a month for the first six months to discuss cases. The team will also review the information that is exchanged between the agencies to start to investigate thoroughly. The first meeting is scheduled Sept. 25. For more information regarding the Elder Death Review Team contact the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office at 805- 568-2350.

Bilingual Workers Needed for 2007 General Municipal Elections

The City of Santa Barbara is looking for bilingual citizens to work as poll workers in the upcoming November 6 General Municipal Elections. 

“The Department of Justice requires every polling place to be staffed by at least one bilingual worker, for the city we have 33 polling places, right now we are a [bit] short of bilingual workers. Our ultimate goal is to have two bilingual workers at each polling place,” said Starla Lago, city employee.

Applicants must be at least 18-years-old, a U.S. citizen, be a registered voter in the California, able to speak and read the English Language, available to serve from 6:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. on Election Day and have adequate transportation.

“This is for the November 6, 2007 General Municipal Election, in which City Council members will be voted into office and measure A, a measure that could possibly change election years from odd to even,  will be voted on,” Lago said.

Poll worker duties include, but are not limited to, preparing, opening and closing the polling place, finding voters’ names on the roster, issuing and receiving official ballots and assisting voters in the voting process.

The job will include compensation ranging from $120 to $200.

For more information regarding the General Municipal Election on November 6 or about how to become a bilingual poll worker, visit www.SBCityVote.org.

Vegetation Fire Destroys Gaviota Springs Structure

The County Fire Department has declared the vegetation fire that destroyed a half acre of land and part of a home, Sept. 15, was apparently caused by a hot plate that had either malfunctioned or been left on. The fire appears to have been accidental, and the estimated dollar loss has been updated to approximately $400,000. According to a statement released to the public by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the fire was reported at 5:51 a.m. by a resident, who was awoken by the smoke that was “filling the room.” The unnamed male then assisted in helping a disabled female, who also occupied the house.

The fire occurred at 300 Rural Route 1, near Gaviota Hot Springs. The Fire Department responded with five engine companies, two water tenders, one air and lightening support unit, two dozers and fuels crews.

When firefighters arrived, bystanders of the fire reported that there were two residents inside the burning structure. They then assisted in getting the disabled woman out of the house.

An adjoining fully converted two-story garage was burned to the ground. The fire was declared contained at 6:10 a.m. Though some of the residents denied comment, the American Red Cross has been contacted in the chance that the occupants needed shelter or other things. No injuries were reported. 

“They did not have detectors, so it’s possible that the amount of damage could have been contributed to the amount of damage done by the fire,” said Eli Iskow, public information officer. “Smoke detectors are always, always a positive, it’s never been a case where smoke detectors have been a negative. But we always say make sure you have functional smoke detectors in the home and that you test them monthly.”

The fire department also recommends some precautionary steps be taken to avoid such fires.

 

LIFE SAFETY LESSON:

Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food cooking inside the oven.

Turn off all cooking appliances immediately when finished.

Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).

Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet (1 meter) around the stove. Keep pets from underfoot so you do not trip while cooking. Also, keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto burner.

Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.

Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it

Can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire.

If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.