Fight on West Carrillo Street
SANTA BARBARA — A fight broke out in the 400 block of West Carrillo Street early Tuesday.
According to emergency radio traffic, bystanders reported the fight around 7 a.m.
Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Anthony Wagner said officers determined two subjects were fighting with shovels and sticks.
— Paul Gonzalez
Scorpion Fire 90% contained
VENTURA — The Scorpion Fire on Santa Cruz island was 90% contained as of Tuesday morning.
A Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman said the fire spread to 1,395 acres.
“The fire began Sunday morning near the pier at Scorpion Anchorage in the Channel Islands National Park,” the spokesman said.
County fire department Crew 10 helped U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service fire crews fight the fire on Tuesday morning.
— Paul Gonzalez
Grand jury critical of department
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara County Grand Jury released a report that found the Santa Barbara Community Development Department “poorly run with unhelpful staff.”
The grand jury provides civil government oversight. The panel released its report on the development department on Tuesday.
The jurors found CDD staff did not process permit applications in a timely manner and that there were “few repercussions” for employees who did not achieve performance goals.
The jurors found CDD lacked strong leadership at “several levels,” which created “a culture of slow growth, inconsistent customer service and a fee structure and permitting process which
appear to be a deterrent to building and development within the City of Santa Barbara,” according to the report.
Jury members recommended CDD hold public workshops to explain its processes and procedures. They added that city officials should direct CDD staff to develop a reasonable and definitive timeline for issuing permits.
The full report is available at http://www.sbcgj.org/2020.
— Paul Gonzalez
SBPD searches for at-risk adult
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Police Department officers are searching for a missing woman.
According to an SBPD news release, 36-year-old Santa Barbara resident Ashley Lynn Zachman was last seen working at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, 320 W. Pueblo St., on Friday at 5 p.m.
“Zachman’s family members and co-workers have not seen or heard from her since she left work on Friday,” the report read.
Ms. Zachman is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 115 points. She has blue eyes and brown hair.
“The parents stated this is out-of-character for Zachman and she has never shown a pattern of running away or disappearing,” the report read.
SBPD spokesman Anthony Wagner said anyone who finds Ms. Zachman should call 911.
— Paul Gonzalez
Santa Maria curfew effective
SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria Police Department officials say the city’s mandatory curfew has been effective.
On Monday, Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino announced a mandatory curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The curfew will be effective until June 8.
Sgt. Duane Schneider said no major incidents occurred Monday night through Tuesday morning. Sgt. Schneider said on Sunday evening, protestors broke windows at the Rue21 women’s store in the Santa Maria Town Center mall.
— Paul Gonzalez