Dog fighting initiative introduced

California Assembly member Pedro Nava has introduced a legislative initiative to make it a felony in California to be a spectator at a dog fight.

The initiative, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, was announced Feb. 19 at a press conference in Sacramento.

“California is the only western state where dog fighting spectators are subject to only misdemeanor prosecution,” Nava said.

“It is imperative that California join the 19 other states which have made it felony to be a spectator at a dog fight.”

 

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States, added that the current law in California “is deficient in handling these people who cheer and enable this cruelty.”

He said his organization “strongly backs” Nava’s efforts “to crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in dog fighting.”

The press release added that recent statistics estimate more than 40,000 people are involved in organized dog fighting, an additional 100,000 are street-level fighters, and more than 250,000 dogs die annually.

The report also showed a direct correlation between persons arrested for animal abuse and those also arrested for violent crimes against people.

 

 

Gas still bubbling at Greka

Gas was still bubbling up through the oil spill on Feb. 26 at an oil and gas leak at the Greka Security lease, 5200 Dominion Road, according to Captain Eli Iskow, information officer with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. A county Hazardous Materials Unit responded to the initial leak, which was reported to the department at 11 a.m. on Feb. 20. Specialists found oil and gas bubbling out of the ground close to Well 9.

Greka employees reported that a one-inch pressurized gas line had ruptured and they were working to isolate the correct valve and shutdown the system. HMU specialists took air samples, finding explosive levels of methane gas near the source of the leak and removed employees and other non-safety personnel from the site.

 

Iskow said Greka officials have not been able to shut down the gas pressure but oil accumulation on the ground has slowed the escape of gas bubbles in the area.

He said that a dirt berm was built by Greka employees to contain the oil and keep it from running into a seasonal creek when it rains. So far the estimated amount of oil spilled is about 84 gallons.

Samples of air around the site are still being taken, Iskow said, while department officials, as well as personnel from the county petroleum division, the air pollution control district, the county office of Emergency Services, the State Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources, and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, are monitoring the situation.

 

 

Oil spill contained in Casmalia

An oil spill reported at the Richards Oil Company on Feb. 15 was controlled within hours, according to Captain Eli Iskow, information officer with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The spill, at Tompkins Peshine Tank Battery, 5300 Associated Road, Casmalia, occurred when a tank overflowed and crude oil and water moved into a secondary containment.

The department reported that the oil did not contaminate the surrounding environment and there was no immediate threat to employees or the public, nor were toxic levels of gases detected.

 

Investigation of the spill showed a power outage caused an injection pump to stop operating, which allowed the overflow into the secondary containment. Approximately 40 barrels, or 1,680 gallons, were spilled, Iskow said.

The company was required to have the spill residue removed by Feb. 22.

 

 

Gang members arrested in SB

Two men, both known gang members, according to Santa Barbara City Police, were arrested Feb. 20 at their homes in Santa Barbara after being involved in an assault at Jack-in-the-Box, 501 N. Milpas, Santa Barbara, on Feb. 2.

The assault incident involved a victim and his wife and a friend who entered the restaurant at approximately 1:20 a.m. and were subsequently assaulted, according to Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte, information officer with the Santa Barbara Police Department.

 

The suspects fled the scene before medical personnel could respond to the scene and assist the victims, who suffered minor abrasions to the head after falling and being hit with an unknown object. The victims are not associated with any gangs.

Sgt. Durarte said Daniel De Jesus and Ernesto Gill Lopez, both 19, were taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and gang enhancement.