Arrest Made in Paseo Nuevo Stabbing

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

(SANTA BARBARA, CA – May 23, 2017) At 12:25 P.M., the Santa Barbara Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 emergency call reporting an individual had been stabbed.  The caller advised that the victim was at Vera Cruz Park and needed medical attention.

Officers arrived and located the victim nearby in the Office Max parking lot. 

The victim appeared to have been involved in some type of altercation, as he was bleeding from apparent stab wounds.  While initially responsive, he was disoriented and able to give minimal information to Officers.  He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

A preliminary investigation linked two other subsequent 911 calls to the call reporting the stabbing victim.  One call came from Paseo Nuevo reporting a possible fight between two males; the second call requested officers respond to Santa Barbara City Hall to check on a male bleeding from his hand. 

Santa Barbara Police investigators, with the help of eyewitnesses and retail video cameras, have been able to confirm multiple locations in which evidence has been gathered linking the scenes and the calls-for-service.

Here is a bullet-point synopsis:  

• -Victim and suspect are involved in a verbal altercation in front of the AT&T Store in Paseo Nuevo.
• -The argument turns physical and suspect stabs victim in the back.
• -The victim leaves the area and walks to Vera Cruz Park and calls a family member who in turn calls 911.
• -Victim is found at Office Max suffering from 2 stab wounds.
• -Victim is transported via AMR to Cottage where he is currently in fair condition with non-life threatening stab wounds.
• -Suspect shows up at City Hall with a bloody wound to his hand.
• -Officers respond to City Hall and conduct a search of the premises.
• -The suspect was located, arrested and subsequently transported to Cottage for treatment of a minor injury.
• -A weapon was also recovered at City Hall.
• -An independent witness identified the suspect as the primary aggressor of the altercation at Paseo Nuevo.

Because of the on-going investigation names, ages, and places of residence are being with withheld.  Anyone wishing to provide additional information related to this incident should call the Santa Barbara Police Department at 805-897-2300.