Suspect Brandishing Gun on Winchester Canyon

Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies have arrested a suspect responsible for two brandishing incidents in the past week. On Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 3:37 p.m., deputies responded to the 5900-block of Stagecoach Road on a report of a subject pointing a rifle at people in the area. The suspect fled in a silver Honda Accord prior to deputies’ arrival, but they were able to gather witness descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle.

Today, at approximately 7:44 a.m. deputies were dispatched to a call of suspect with a rifle in a silver Honda Accord threatening to kill people in the 100-block of Winchester Canyon. The suspect again fled prior to deputies’ arrival. Through their investigation, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 39-year-old Marcelino Valente-Cruz of Santa Barbara.

At approximately 3:12 p.m. this afternoon, deputies spotted the suspect in his vehicle in the area of Mandarin Drive and S. Fairview Avenue. The suspect was taken into custody and the weapon used in the brandishing, a Red Rider BB gun, was recovered from the vehicle. Deputies’ investigation revealed that Valente-Cruz was the suspect for both brandishing incidents.

Valente-Cruz was booked at the Main Jail for brandishing (misdemeanor) and criminal threats (felony). He is being held without bail.