SBPDPIOSource: Santa Barbara Police Department
Santa Barbara Police Department Officers arrested Nathan Terrence Hunter, a 39-years-old Santa Barbara resident, in connection with 4 separate incidents where he allegedly targeted female victims.
On October 5, 2021, at 6:47am, the Combined Communications Center received a call of a battery that occurred in the area of 600 W. Gutierrez Street. The responding Officers contacted the victim, a 24-year-old female who was walking to her vehicle when she was approached by Hunter. The victim reported that Hunter, who was unprovoked and unknown to the victim, spat in her face.
Approximately 30 minutes later, and a short walking distance away, Santa Barbara Police Department Officers responded to another call of a battery that had occurred. The circumstances were similar in that an unknown male suspect approached a different 24-year-old female and grabbed her by the arm and shoved her into a vehicle she was preparing to enter. The victim fled and the suspect spat on the vehicle. An Officer observed a subject in the area shortly after who matched the description provided by both victims. The subject was detained and identified as Nathan Terrance Hunter. The investigation led Officers to arrest Hunter for the two incidents which amounted to misdemeanor battery charges.
On October 6, 2021, Officers were conducting a follow-up investigation into an incident that occurred on October 4, 2021, at 6:00pm near the Amtrak parking lot. The 21-year-old female victim had parked her vehicle in the lot and was confronted by a subject who made demands and advanced towards her. The victim began to move away from the subject who allegedly spat in the victim’s face. After investigating this incident further, it was determined an attempted robbery had occurred, and the suspect was identified by the victim as Hunter.
On October 7, 2021, at 6:00am, a Santa Barbara Police Officer observed a subject, later identified as Hunter, standing in the street in what appeared to be a confrontation with a female driver of a vehicle. The driver reported he was blocking her from moving forward in the roadway. While the Officer was observing Hunter, dispatchers from the Combined Communication Center broadcast on the police radio, a report of a subject blocking the street in the same location. The Officer attempted to verbally direct Hunter out of the street from a distance. Hunter challenged the Officer to fight, threatened him, and began approaching the Officer. Other Officers arrived and attempted to arrest Hunter. Hunter violently resisted and was subsequently taken into custody.
Hunter was booked on numerous charges stemming from the four cases which includes multiple counts of battery, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, and resisting arrest. Hunter’s bail was set at $500,000. Two of the Officers involved in the violent altercation that occurred on October 7, 2021, sustained minor abrasions.
Saw the pre-arrest end of the story pop up on Nextdoor, it was the young lady who was first contacted by the suspect. she gave a detailed account, even mentioned the suspect is one of our “houseless neighbors” too, something this story fails to bring up.
Seriously, Houston, we’ve got a problem. The only solution is to put leadership in place that will take the drug aspect into account, which most of the “metally ill defense” contingent seem to omit from their rhetoric.
Once society accepts that the majority of these individuals aren’t where they are because of income inequality, racial inequity, rising home prices, rising rents or capitalism and accepts the drugs (meth, heroin, fentanyl) angle as the primary cause, then MAYBE something CAN be done.
But to continue making excuses for bad behavior seems to be the kid gloves approach, thus nothing will be effectively done.
Here in Isla Vista since the removal of the encampments the number of shoplifting, prowlings, burglaries, thefts, assaults and just general negative confrontations has gone to lower numbers than before, practically zero.
We don’t have EMT response to OD’s every 30 to 45 minutes every hour on the hour anymore or police response to serious crimes.
One of the things that was seriously considered in the planning of the removal was the drugs angle and this was factored into how the situation was handled. Now if the City of Santa Barbara could do the same, that would be nice.
Thanks Gavin!
Meth
Meth
Meth.
Heroin
And more
Meth
Bud Tall boy.
Sandwich from trash can
Meth.
Shit in creek.
Steal a bike rim.
Days like that only last a short while till voices start and violence happens
Stop the hard drugs
Thank you government leaders and city Council and health department for allowing and attracting ( with no enforced Covid rules) all of these Scum suckers to roam free and continue roaming I think the guy I believe might’ve been a politician at one point or still is one-he has An invisible shield around him has more rights than you and me need to start holding a higher up responsible-thank God no innocent people were hurt hopefully his spit Wasn’t contaminated