Man flashes gun at restaurant
SANTA BARBARA – At approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, the Santa Barbara Police Department received numerous calls reporting a suspect with a gun at Los Agaves Restaurant, located in the 600 block of Milpas Street.
Police officers arrived on the scene about two minutes after being dispatched and witnesses said they saw a man with a gun confront a woman before fleeing in a vehicle. An investigation found that the victim was known to the suspect, said Lt. Shaun Hill, police spokesman.
No shots were fired, however, a loaded gun magazine was found at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
— Jorge Mercado
Man arrested on assault, drug charges
SANTA BARBARA — A Santa Barbara man was arrested Sunday and is accused of using a rock in a threatening manner toward police before being arrested, police said.
Around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police received a 911 call from employees of a business in the 1200 block of State Street who reported seeing a man lighting objects on fire in the middle of State Street, as well as circling the block looking into vehicles parked along intersections, said Capt. Marylinda Arroyo, police spokeswoman.
An officer was sent to the area and was flagged down by a woman who said a man was following her, but the officer was unable to locate the suspect.
About 20 minutes later, police located Diego Hernandez-Mendez, 34, walking along East Carrillo Street. Mr. Hernandez-Mendez was ordered to stop, but fled towards State Street running through the middle of the street where the patrol car couldn’t access.
Mr. Hernandez-Mendez stopped in the first block of West Ortega Street, turned towards an officer and raised his right hand up while holding a large rock. The rock was approximately 7 inches by 4 inches and was jagged crystalized amethyst with a pointed end, Capt. Arroyo said.
The officer avoided being hit by the rock and several officers detained Mr. Hernandez-Mendez.
He was arrested on suspicion of threatening violence to deter arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, being under the influence of a controlled substance and a probation violation.
— Mitchell White
