SBPDPIO
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
On April 15, 2022, around 6:30 pm, an on-duty Santa Barbara Police Officer was sitting in their marked police vehicle completing a report from a previous call for service in the 200 block of West Alamar Avenue. The Officer’s vehicle was parked along the curb when it was rear-ended and sideswiped on the driver side by another vehicle traveling south on West Alamar Avenue.
The police vehicle was moderately damaged, and the Officer was injured and unable to exit the police vehicle due to the damage. Multiple Officers arrived on scene to assist the Officer and the other involved driver. Upon further investigation, it was determined the driver of the vehicle that collided with the police car was under the influence and was placed under arrest.
The driver was identified as 40-year-old Jeremy Joe Patterson, a Santa Barbara resident. Patterson did not sustain injuries in this collision, and he was booked in the Santa Barbara County Jail for Felony DUI Causing Injury, Misdemeanor Driving on a Suspended License, and Misdemeanor Driving a Vehicle without Interlock Device. Patterson is currently on probation for DUI. His bail was set at $100,000.
The Officer is expected to make a full recovery and eventually return to duty.
Second time this has happened in the last year or so. LOL / totally not funny at the same time. DUI needs way harsher penalties.