Crime is down in Grover Beach, arrests are up
By KAREN VELIE The Grover Beach Police Department announced Tuesday that crime is down in 2025 while arrests have increased. “We’re happy to report that so far this year, crime continues to drop in Grover Beach,” the department posted on Facebook. “With improved staffing levels, we’re seeing the impact that...
Distinctive footwear led to arrest of Carpinteria cannabis farm burglar
By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County sheriff deputies recently tracked down a Carpinteria cannabis farm burglar based on his distinctive footwear. Deputies arrested 58-year-old David Stephens, the owner of bright orange wrestling shoes, on Monday. On July 21, deputies responded to a report of a burglary at a cannabis farm...
Santa Barbara County deputies find 38 victims tied to fraud scheme
By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives have identified 33 additional victims tied to a fraud scheme by a man who claimed to be a senior executive with BMW. Detectives arrested 64-year-old Jonathan Tudor of West Hollywood on July 29 after learning he had posed as a luxury car...
Paddleboarder attacks surfer in Morro Bay, charged with attempted murder
By KAREN VELIE During an altercation over a wave, a male paddleboarder allegedly attacked a female surfer in the waters off Morro Bay on Saturday, according to State Parks. While the surfer is recovering from the assault, the man is charged with attempted murder. While surfing is a male dominated...
Making friends with a bird in Cayucos
Editor’s Note: The following series, “Life in Radically Gentrifying Cayucos by the Sea,” to be posted biweekly includes the notes, thoughts, and opinions of an original American voice: author Dell Franklin. Franklin’s memoir, “The ballplayer’s Son” and “Life on The Mississippi, 1969” are currently on Amazon. As an octogenarian, I...
Man assaults woman in Atascadero, flees officers
By KAREN VELIE A 29-year-old man is in jail after he assaulted his girlfriend in Atascadero and then fled the scene. On Aug. 12, officers responded to a report of a domestic violence incident. Officers arrived to discover Ivan Sandoval-Farias had fled in a vehicle. An Atascadero detective located Sandoval-Farias...
Arroyo Grande police holding DUI checkpoint Friday night
By KAREN VELIE Arroyo Grande police plan to conduct a DUI checkpoint in the South County city at an undisclosed location on Friday evening from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Officers select the DUI checkpoint location based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. Officers check licenses and insurance...
