SWAT Responds to Barricaded Suspect at Montecito Inn

Update by Santa Barbara Police Department

On Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 11:57 P.M., the Santa Barbara Police Department Communications Center received a call from the front desk of the Montecito Inn, located in the 1200 Block of Coast Village Road, reporting a woman ran into their lobby and said her boyfriend had harmed her and she need immediate assistance.

During the initial patrol response, it was determined the victim and suspect were in a domestic dispute and upon attempting to contact the suspect, he barricaded himself inside their hotel room and refused to cooperate. The Investigation revealed that the subject, San Clemente resident Benjamin Pringle, age 37, battered and verbally threatened the victim. The victim sustained moderate physical injuries as a result of the incident. It was also reported the suspect had possibly produced a weapon, displayed it to the victim, and had made “criminal threats” to the victim. The victim was able to escape the room and summon help during a time the suspect was distracted.

The Santa Barbara Police Department’s SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the hotel and communications were established with Pringle. He was initially uncooperative but at approximately 4 A.M. he began interacting by cell phone. Roughly six hours after the standoff began, Pringle finally surrendered to Police without further incident.

Pringle was booked at Santa Barbara County Jail on several charges including 273.5 (a) PC Domestic Battery, 422 PC Criminal Threats, 245 (a) (4) PC assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and 417 (a) (2) PC Brandishing a weapon.

Benjamin Pringle (Photo: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office)