Just like on “Cops,” the Isla Vista Foot Patrol caught some bad guys.
IVFP officers have been hard at work this past week closing three burglary cases and returning stolen property to its rightful owners. IVFP Lieutenant Tom McKinny said a woman reported that her car, which was parked in a parking lot on the 6500 block of Sabado Tarde Road, was broken into on Jan. 17 between 2 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Several items were stolen. IVFP officers discovered evidence left behind by an 18-year-old man.
“The evidence which was left behind enabled Officer Reyes to develop the suspect’s identification,” McKinny said. “He obtained a search warrant and during the search, discovered at least one of the stolen items, less than one ounce of marijuana, a weapon and an unknown clear liquid, which was sent to the Dept. of Investigation’s crime lab for testing for GHB or whatnot.”
The IVFP requested that the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office file charges against the UCSB student for burglary, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, possession of a weapon and possibly another count depending on the results of the lab test on the unknown clear liquid.
On Jan. 18 around 8:38 p.m., the IVFP office received an alarm call from the I.V. Teen Center. McKinny said that when officers arrived at the I.V. Teen Center, located at 889 Camino Del Sur, they were met by witnesses who told them that four juvenile men were seen fleeing from the I.V. Teen Center moments before they arrived.
While several officers surveyed the area where the juveniles forced their entry, other officers searched the surrounding I.V. area for young men matching the description provided by witnesses. The officers were able to locate the juveniles and witnesses identified the four men in a line-up.
McKinny said that once the juveniles were brought into the IVFP station, officers determined that at least one individual had entered the I.V. Teen Center, but all four juveniles, ranging in age from 13 to 17, were arrested for either burglary or conspiracy to burglary. All four juveniles were residents of Picasso Road or Abrego Road and attended school locally.
The juveniles were booked into juvenile hall and released to their parents. It has not yet been determined if anything from the I.V. Teen Center was taken.
In another incident, a man reported a residential burglary to the IVFP about three weeks to a month ago. A laptop computer and other items were taken from the man’s Del Playa Drive apartment. McKinny said information developed and officers were able to develop a suspect. Officers questioned the suspect, who cooperated and gave the stolen property back to the IVFP. The man was charged with residential burglary.
