sbsheriffSource: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
On Thursday, December 30, 2021, at approximately 10 p.m. Goleta deputies responded to a report of an attempt rape in progress in the parking lot of Albertsons grocery store located in the 5800-block of Calle Real. Deputies contacted the survivor who was able to fight off the unknown suspect prior to their arrival. The suspect was last seen running from the area.
Deputies, along with a K9 unit, established a perimeter and searched the surrounding area. While searching the area, deputies located the naked male suspect hiding under a trash can to the rear of the Albertsons store. The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Miguel Angel Hernandez-Garcia from Santa Maria. Hernandez-Garcia was arrested and booked at the Main Jail for attempted rape. Hernandez-Garcia is being held on a one-million-dollar bail.
The Sheriff’s Office coordinates closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused. Victim Advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855-840-3232.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through our community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA). Services offered by STESA include a confidential 24-Hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling. You can reach a STESA advocate at any time by calling (805) 564-3696.
My god stay indoors during the holidays everybody is going nuts.
Such a malefactor should learn to keep his nasty impulses “in hand!”
Glad this wasn’t yet another case of zero cash bail.
Don’t rule out the possibility his last case was a zero bail scenario that helped allow this to happen
Calif law AB1475 prohibits law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photos of people not yet found guilty. No more “Ladies Love It” photos until after a guilty sentence or plea, sadly.
Interesting that ScannerAndrew reported this incident real-time, and then I added that it was a suspected rape and the suspect was caught -very soon thereafter, the story disappeared from EdHat. Why might that have happened? Was it the word ‘rape’ that triggered some censor response? People need to know about things like this ASAP, not wait until the Sheriff crafts a public release a day later.
I’m also curious as to why Ed won’t let me submit news due to the over riding weather blurb and when I ask Andrew he said wait until I post it then you can add to it. I quit following all three of these last incidents which I had on the initial calls due to this. The San Roque incidents were never really covered due to this. I’m not going to wait for breaking news when I can’t submit it only to ask for Andrew for the details.
K9 thought it was a doggie bone….
omg – that is one of the funniest – & most bizarre – headlines I’ve ever read!!
Did the cold weather make “short work” of it?