1-27

Arrest

1600 block of Eucalyptus Dr.,

Solvang

A 26-year-old male from Solvang was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid California Driver’s License after police received reports that he was breaking bottles in a parking lot. When police arrived the man was backing out of the driveway. Police observed a strong odor of alcohol and the man failed a series of sobriety tests. He was taken to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

 

1-26

Arrest

3400 East Hwy. 246,

Santa Ynez (Chumash Casino)

A 20-year-old male from Isla Vista was arrested for being in possession of cocaine after police received reports from casino security that the man was intoxicated. The man had fallen asleep on the casino bus and the bus driver was unable to wake him.

The bus driver assumed that the man was passed out drunk and called security. Officers were able to wake the man and help him off the bus, and in the process a large Ziploc bag containing cocaine fell from the man’s trouser pocket. The man admitted that he had bought two grams of cocaine from an unknown person in Isla Vista two days earlier. He was taken to the Santa Maria Jail.

 

1-25

Vandalism

400 block of First St., Solvang

Police received reports that an unknown suspect(s) vandalized a side of a building in an alley by writing SOUTHSIDE 13 on the wall with brown spray paint. The case was suspended pending leads.

 

1-23

Embezzlement

2948 Grand Ave., Los Olivos

(R Country Store)

A 48-year-old male from Los Olivos reported that an adult male employee of the R Country Store had stolen more than $200 from the store over a period of one week. A report was taken and will be followed-up by patrol.

 

1-22

Petty Theft

3400 East Hwy. 246,

Santa Ynez (Chumash Casino)

Police received reports from a casino employee who claimed that her purse and wallet had been stolen from a staff dressing room. On surveillance cameras, police observed a 36-year-old male and a 27-year-old female, both from Santa Maria, enter the dressing room and exit it a few minutes later with the item. The suspects remain at large. The case was submitted to detectives for a follow-up.

 

1-20

Citation

3400 East Hwy. 246,

Santa Ynez (Chumash Casino)

A 52-year-old male from Fillmore was cited for being in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana after police received reports from casino security that the man was smoking what appeared to be marijuana on casino property.

 

Burglary

2000 block of Hwy. 154, Santa Ynez

A 71-year-old male from Santa Ynez reported that someone had broken into his house and had taken $750 from his bedroom and kitchen. The man suspected that a 73-year-old male from the area had stolen the money.

Police interviewed that man, but were unable to conclude that he had anything to do with the theft. The man is still a suspect. The case was sent to detectives for a follow-up.

 

Arrest

3400 East Hwy. 246,

Santa Ynez (Chumash Casino)

A 29-year-old female and a 27-year-old female, both from Santa Maria, were arrested for commercial burglary after police conducted a follow-up on a reported stolen credit card.

A purchase at a pizza restaurant revealed that the stolen credit card was used at that location. Police spoke with the owner of the pizza restaurant and he confirmed that two women had come into the business a day earlier and used the credit card.

The credit card also had been used at a Target and a gas station. One of the women admitted that they had stolen the credit card from a women’s locker room at the casino prior to using it. They were taken to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

 

 

Arrest

Cerrito at Faraday Sts.,

Santa Ynez

A 31-year-old male from Santa Ynez was arrested for being drunk in public after police received reports that he was arguing with a taxi driver. The man allegedly had called the taxi driver to pick him up from the Maverick Saloon and when the taxi driver informed that man that he didn’t accept debit cards, the man became upset.

He took the man to the bank, but the man was unable to get any money from the ATM. When the taxi driver informed the man that he could not transport him any further, the man got out of the vehicle, slamming and breaking the door. The taxi driver followed the man to his car and called the police. The man was taken to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

 

1-3

Fraud

2010 East Hwy. 246, Solvang

(Santa Barbara Bank and Trust)

Bank staff reported that an adult female in her late 20s or early 30s entered the bank and attempted to cash a fraudulent check, which appeared to be drawn on a savings account. The teller also noticed that the birthday on the woman’s driver’s license had just passed and congratulated her, but said that the woman didn’t seem to notice the birthday.

When the teller informed the woman of the discrepancies on the check, the woman simply snatched the check from the teller and left the bank quietly. An e-mail was sent out to all the branches informing them of the suspect. A report was taken and the case was suspended pending leads.