Anonymous
Photo by Hank Carralejo
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced the “incident at the 76 Station in Buellton has been resolved, residents are longer requested to shelter in place” after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
According to CHP, a woman called 911 in Oceano and said her father had kidnapped her and her mother and were inside a moving RV before 9:00 a.m. The daughter reportedly has a restraining order against her father.
CHP officers spotted the vehicle on Santa Maria Way in Santa Maria when the driver refused to pull over and initiated a pursuit on Highway 101 southbound. The driver exited onto the Avenue of Flags in Buellton and pulled into the 76 gas station. The daughter was then able to escape the RV but her mother and father, the driver, were still inside.
The Sheriff’s Office released an alert for anyone in the nearby area to shelter in place as surrounding roads were shut down. Official’s efforts to get the driver to surrender for over an hour were unsuccessful. Officers then conducted a flash-bang operation which distracted the suspect enough for officers to enter the RV and apprehend him. The woman inside was unharmed.
The suspect’s daughter allegedly stated he was in a “meth-induced psychosis.”
The suspect was arrested and is charged with driving under the influence, eluding police and violating a restraining order, reports CHP. His identity has yet to be released.
California Highway Patrol was pursuing an RV that refused to pull over before 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The pursuit began on Santa Maria Way in Santa Maria. The driver continued towards Buellton where it pulled off Highway 101 and stopped at the 76 gas station on Avenue of Flags.
At 9:19 a.m., Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued a “shelter in place” alert to people in the area as they deal with an “incident.”
Unofficial reports from edhat readers and witnesses on the scene indicate it may be a kidnapping situation where the male driver is holding two women hostage inside the RV. SWAT teams are reportedly on the scene and have the RV surrounded. It’s unclear if the hostages have been released or are still inside the vehicle.
Roads in the surrounding area have been closed.
Edhat will update this article with more information as it becomes available.
Reported by edhat readers
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Any idea why unmarked white vehicles with red lights and sirens going northbound past Storke? A little before 9am Tuesday
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At least 4 police vehicles on Avenue of Flags in Buellton, officers have their guns drawn. What’s up?
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Sheriff’s Office sent out shelter in place on Ave of Flags near the 76 station.
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RV surrounded, police have guns on them
