Santa Barbara Man Arrested for Assault on a CHP Officer

Source: Ventura Police Department

On the above date and time, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol dispatch reporting that a California Highway Patrol motor officer was involved in an officer involved shooting in the 200 block of Comstock Dr. and were requesting assistance by our officers.  Several officers with the Ventura Police Department responded to the area and located the involved CHP officer.  

During the investigation it was learned the CHP officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 101 for a moving violation when the vehicle exited onto the city streets.  The driver of the vehicle attempted to evade the officer and drove onto Comstock St., which is a dead end street.  After the driver made a U-turn, the driver drove at a high rate of speed towards the CHP officer and an officer involved shooting occurred.  The suspect driver continued and fled the scene.   

Approximately 2.5 hours later, the suspect vehicle was located unoccupied in the 2200 block of Katari Ave., which is approximately 2 miles from the scene of where the officer involved shooting occurred.  There was evidence that confirmed the vehicle was involved in the incident.  The suspect driver has not been located. 

The California Highway Patrol officer was not injured.  

UPDATE

VPD Detectives identified the suspect as Curt Carpenter due to evidence found in the vehicle and witnesses at the scene of the shooting. Carpenter is on Post Release Offender Supervision (PROS) in Santa Barbara County. VPD Detectives authored an arrest warrant for Carpenter and on 8/22/19; SBSO Detectives located Carpenter in Montecito and arrested him without incident. Carpenter was booked in the Santa Barbara County Jail for assault on a police officer and for violating his post release offender status, both felonies.