Video by Benson Chen
Deltopia violence led to riots in Isla Vista streets tonight after assaults on police and multiple stabbings prompted law enforcement to subdue crowds with tear gas and riot gear.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff spokesperson Kelly Hoover said the “civil unrest” began on the 6700 block of Del Playa Drive at approximately 9:30 p.m. when a UCSB Police Department officer was struck in the head with a backpack containing bottles of alcohol. Hoover said at least five sheriff’s deputies were injured by thrown bottles and bricks and at least two incidents of assault with a deadly weapon were confirmed earlier in the evening.
Law enforcement formed a barricade and dispersed crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets as bottles, bricks and rocks were thrown, car windshields were destroyed and dumpsters and trash cans were moved into the street. Rioters also burned several mattresses, tore down street signs and damaged multiple police vehicles.
A Santa Barbara County Sherriff department officer announced repeatedly that those present were part of an “unlawful assembly” and warned bystanders to go indoors as crowds in the street chanted “fuck the police” and “America.” After police had driven people off of Del Playa and shut down the street to the public, focus shifted to nearby Sabado Tarde Road, Camino Pescadero and Camino Del Sur where similar incidents were occurring.
Hoover said additional officers were brought in from agencies across Santa Barbara and Ventura County, and order was restored after several hours. Over 100 people were arrested throughout the day, including 18 during the unrest, and 44 people were transported to the hospital for injuries, she said.
A student was also hospitalized after being shot in the leg by an officer, according to an eyewitness account, although law enforcement has not confirmed the incident.
Photos by Benjamin Pu
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Well This is embarrassing… Tell me: this riot, was it for a cause? Or just because of the anonymous Defender’s entitlement to party / be a violent drink in a public space?
The students will undoubtedly try to pin this on out of towners. How they will explain away the fact that they invited those out of towners will be at best a good exercise in denial. Noozhawk reported that 50% of the arrests before the riot were IV residents…Looking forward to the stream of bs on this one. Will fusion glass be held responsible for the property damage and added cost to the county? They hosted the fb page with 12k likes. Anyone? How about printing the open letter to students next to the pictures off the riot for comparison. The… Read more »
While many out of towners were invited by students, there are still some that were not invited by anyone. I was personally asked by three different groups (1-4 people each) for a 06 ace to crash because they didn’t even know anyone in IV this weekend. News reports say that X% of the arrests were IV residents, but after a few days they find out that a lot of those people lie about living here. I live in IV and I told my friends that if they came they could not stay with me because I did not want any… Read more »
*place* not 06 ace..
The main issue with our generation is that we do not seem to care about any cause enough to riot… This “riot” had no purpose, no reason of being, and was simply created by excess alcohol and the “wish” or “desire” to fight back agains the police, or the controlling force. Look around you, people, there are real reasons to be rioting. Causes that our government claims to support, only to appease us, but in reality doesn’t proactively do anything about. There are countless wars that our government has unconstitutionally waged. When will people riot over their money, which is… Read more »
85% of students pay property tax thru rent to their landlord. All students pay sales, gas, and income tax.
I think you mean students’ mommies and daddies pay rent.
Sure, of course, but the taxes get paid. Not to mention all the bed tax the parents pay when they come to visit.
IV is a gusher of money for the County, even after paying for the law enforcement. That is why the County has voted repeatedly *not* to allow IV to have its own City.
Were IV its own City, the costs would be paid locally, but the revenues would also stay local to IV. The County hates that.
Obviously, you haven’t had the pleasure of paying your own way through school, as well as rent in IV. Not quite the free picnic you spell it out to be.
For decades, out-of-towners have crowded into Isla Vista for parties, be it Deltopia, Halloween and etc. The majority of those people are not invited by students. I would like to see accurate statistics of those arrested, wounded and perpetrating crime. How many were local students? I heard reports of many local students locking themselves inside to get away from the rioting.
Dear Isla Vista, UCSB, Santa Barbara, and Goleta Residents: The recent events (i.e., the riots, the rapes, the stabbings, the robberies) in Isla Vista are unacceptable. That is a fact. It is also a fact that they have happened. What we need to do now is look forward and prevent these incidences from happening again. To do this, everyone must take responsibility for their roles. Isla Vista Resident and UCSB Students Sure, we can blame all of these horrendous events on the so-called “out-of-towners,” but all that accomplishes is shirking our responsibility and providing the space for more events like… Read more »
I just drove around Isla Vista, Sunday morning. I witnessed half a dozen clusters of local UCSB students walking around, wearing plastic gloves, carrying garbage bags and boxes, picking up garbage by hand. Some of the residents of Isla Vista do take responsibility. While I agree with all of the sentiments above, I also believe the reputation is perpetrated not just from the inside, but the outside. Try Playboy Magazine, who decades ago, wrote that I.V. Halloween was one of the top ten parties in the nation. As a local, I attended Halloween for several years prior to that publication.… Read more »
Since when is an anti-police riot not political? Riots do not issue explicit demands, they do not parade nicely and conform to your definitions of acceptable political behavior. That is the point of a riot. They are implicit, and in the case of last night, cleverly stated: “Stop.” People want them to leave them alone. It’s that simple. Cops provoked this riot, like they do with every riot. The problems with the party culture in the community are the community’s problem, and cannot and will not be changed with police or force. Furthermore, It’s an open secret that the police… Read more »
as an alumnus of UCSB who lived for a year on the 6600 block of del playa and saw many a crowd of people (particularly on halloween and graduation weekend) i can say that i never saw anything like that. i’m glad i didn’t. and with all due respect to you, your attitude is part of the problem. grow up! one day in the not too distant future you will be an alumnus, move out and on with your life. i wish you luck. i doubt it will take too long before you look back on your time in SB/IV… Read more »
Like most complicated issues, there is no one single reason for why this occurred. Rather, a number of dynamics provided the conditions for a series of events to transpire. Anyone who says it was because of “X” or states something along of the lines of “this proves Y” is an ignorant simpleton. 1) Let’s distinguish the UCSB/SBCC residents from out-of-town Guests of residents and let’s further distinguish the Guests from the out-of-town Randoms who have no links whatsoever to the residents of IV. In my experience, the Guests tend to get themselves into trouble by committing victimless crimes out of… Read more »
I meant to add “…thus breeding even more contempt and resentment” from my final sentence.
I just wanted to comment and thank you for your thoughts. I scrolled down to the comments section hoping to find a post like yours: critical, well-reasoned and reflective in a way that acknowledges shortcomings on all sides and tries to find meaning in an unfortunate set of circumstances. I hope the community learns from this occurrence and collectively steps up to prevent future violence. The local government and law enforcement are in a difficult position, and based on prior years I worry that they’ll respond in a way that breeds future resentment and conflict. Sad alumnus here, class of… Read more »
Hello Alum, My colleague and I are working on a documentary about last year’s Deltopia. We have already interviewed two officers of IV Foot Patrol, a UCSB professor, and a member of Associated Students. We share many of the same viewpoints as you and would love it if you had time for an interview sometime next week. We are recent graduates of UCSB and intended to finish our project at the end of last year, but our production was halted by the tragic loss of our fellow students at the end of the year. Please let me know if this… Read more »
Note to UCSB Chancellor; You have a problem on your campus. You need to deal with it.
This is just pointless stupidity. Drunk or not, this college needs help.
Go out of town to party with your own friends.Who wants to party with strangers? Just say “Distopia is ended. There will be nothing to come to. Where we are going is secret.”
Go out of town to party. Tell the world Distopia is no more. There will be nothing to come to. No one will be here.
I have thoroughly read all comments and would now like to add a few words of my own. I have come away from this incident feeling somewhat disgusted with it all. When I was attending UCSB back in 1973, the students had a legitimate purpose for protesting. I wonder seriously if this 20-something generation really cares about the important issues facing our nation and world or merely looking for a comfortable white-collar job. Sadly, this will be true for over 90% of the students who do graduate. My above-mentioned website will take me over five years to compose and finish.… Read more »
Oh look at all the idiots recording all the idiots..
Michael W. Reilly you are officially an old man yelling “get off my lawn!”.
I remember 1973 at UCSB as well and I recall lots of people making the same comments you are making today.
What goes around, comes around.
In re: http://www.SantaBarbaria.com:
Markus Sandy, you are correct–what goes around comes around. Or put another way, “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” Spend the time at your leisure and read all what I have written to date on my domain. I have agonized nearly forty years for this productive effort. It’s finally coming to a head in an ultimate monetary fruition. And by the way, I don’t have a lawn, so your analysis is really a clueless one.
Someone gets stabbed ..the University California Spoiled Brats (UCSB) whine and cry….where were the police? Police show up. University California Spoiled Brats (UCSB) say “fuck the police” and throw bricks and bottles. Rioting for what? Right to party? You have a right to party when it is on YOUR property and YOU are paying the tab for the hospital bills, damages, police paramedic and fire services and after you have done some work to earn it, instead of sucking Mommy and Daddy dry so you can learn about porn and how everyone is so mistreated in this country. Until then… Read more »
Your an idiot
Not all UCSB students were an active part…
Most were people from out of town….
The stabbings were of people who do not live in Isla Vista..
Equal Taxpayer as I work Full Time live in IV and attend school NONE of my tuition comes from mommy or daddy so go eff yourself
Well then, please proceed to your nearest church and pray for souls, and return to your trailer and hope your tv bill was paid, that you may continue to be enlightened by Fox News. Tell Mr. Hannity we said Hi!