Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Barbara County’




Lompoc kidnapper arrested in Las Vegas

A Lompoc man suspected of kidnapping and holding his ex-girlfriend captive for four days was arrested Tuesday in Las Vegas. On Monday evening, Joseph Hetzel, 52, released Virginia Paris, 55, in front of a hotel in Henderson, Nevada. Paris told... (Continue reading)

Father pleads guilty to murder of 5-year-old found near Lake Cachuma

A Southern California man has pleaded guilty to murdering his 5-year-old son. The boy’s body was found near Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County after an extensive search by law enforcement. The boy, Aramazd Andressian Jr., was last seen alive... (Continue reading)

Central Coast fires keep burning but firefighters gain more control

Firefighters have established full containment of a blaze burning along San Luis Obispo County’s northern edge and have nearly accomplished the same with a fire in Santa Margarita. Meanwhile, firefighters are starting to gain control of the Alamo Fire that... (Continue reading)

Multiple fires burn on the Central Coast

Fires are burning on both the northern and southern edges of San Luis Obispo County, as well as in Santa Margarita. Additionally, a fire is burning near Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County, and a blaze burned briefly in Morro... (Continue reading)

Suspected DUI driver starts cross-county chase and standoff on highway

A driver suspected of DUI and hit-and-run led authorities on a chase in both southern San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County, which culminated with a standoff on Highway 101. [KSBY] Around 8:15 p.m. Monday, a caller reported... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria jail to close due to budget cuts

As part of major budget cuts, Santa Barbara County is closing the Santa Maria jail.  [KCOY] The move will force law enforcement officers in Northern Santa Barbara County to transport suspects down to Santa Barbara every time they make an... (Continue reading)

Lompoc man missing more than two weeks after heading to Las Vegas

More than two weeks after a 27-year-old man departed his Lompoc home to visit a relative in Las Vegas, he is still missing and law enforcement officials are unsure as to his whereabouts. Zacharey “Tayler” Wilks never arrived at his... (Continue reading)

Suspect allegedly beats a man with guitar for appearing gay

A hate crime suspect allegedly attacked a man with a guitar in Santa Barbara County on April because he believed the victim was gay. The victim suffered a serious injury in the attack, during which the suspect was shouting a... (Continue reading)

Wrong-way driver dies after slamming into big-rig on Highway 101

An elderly Santa Maria man driving the wrong way on Highway 101 crashed head-on into a semi-truck Tuesday night near Los Alamos. The crashed killed the wrong-way driver and sent his van tumbling into the highway median. At approximately 9... (Continue reading)

Thief snatches puppy from Santa Maria animal shelter

An unidentified man was caught last week on surveillance video grabbing a puppy from the Santa Maria animal shelter and tossing the dog over a fence. The suspect then hopped the fence, chased after the puppy and fled. Around 4:30... (Continue reading)