Local News

September 3, 2010

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Detectives have released an artist rendering of a man wanted in connection with the Refugio Rd. shooting on August 26th. The suspect waived down a victim for help with a broken down truck, then demanded money. After the victim replied he didn’t have any the suspect shot him in the leg. The suspect is described as being: a white male in his mid to late ‘30s, 5’10 -6ft tall, 175-180 pounds and light brown hair.
Anyone who may recognize the suspect or have any other information on the shooting is urged to call detectives at 681-4150 or the Anonymous Tip Line at 681-4171.

Early yesterday (Thursday) morning around 2AM, Santa Barbara Police received several calls of gunshots heard in the area of the lower Eastside. Minutes later, a 16-year-old boy called police on his cell phone and told them he had been shot in the arm. Officers found the boy walking near the corner of Canada and Cacique Streets.  He was taken to Cottage Hospital and treated for his wounds. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. The neighborhoods have been canvassed for witnesses, evidence, and leads.  It has not yet been determined whether this incident was gang related. 

In a show of solidarity with a coach who was involved in an altercation with a student last week, dozens of teachers at Cabrillo High School in Lompoc staged a protest by taking the day off.  Nearly 30 teachers did not show up for work on Thursday, forcing school officials to fill the classrooms with certified substitutes.  The teachers say that they’re standing behind coach and counselor Gary West, who was put on paid administrative leave after being accused of pushing a student into a wall and a window.  That student was suspended but has since been allowed to return to school, and some teachers feel he is dangerous.  Meanwhile, Coach West remains on paid leave pending a full investigation.       

September 1, 2010

Workers have removed portions of  the temporary orange colored plastic mesh that was put up on the Cold Spring Bridge as a safety precaution for workers installing the so-called suicide barrier fence. That work was recently ordered stopped by a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge who said that Caltrans did not properly distribute the Environmental Impact Report and allow for proper public input and comment on the barrier.  That process is underway.
It’s not known how long that will take nor when, or if, construction will resume on the barrier fencing.      

Pacific Capital Bank made it official yesterday (Tuesday).  It closed the deal with  Texas-based Ford Financial Fund that will infuse the holding company of Santa Barbara Bank and Trust with $500-million dollars. A senior principal with Ford said at the press conference that the money restores Pacific Capital to its status as one of the “strongest community banks within California.”
Gerald J. Ford, Managing Member of Ford Financial, was appointed Chairman of the Board and named to the Board of Directors of Pacific Capital. Pacific Capital had been struggling over the last two years to meet the demands of Federal regulators to increase its cash reserves in order to protect the bank against its multi-million dollar losses.   

The online software training company, Lynda.com, has bought over 57,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in Carpinteria.  The 31,500 square feet of office space and the  25,920 square foot warehouse space are at 6410 Cindy Lane—the building once owned by the Salvation Army. The price was not announced, but the site had been listed for $6-million dollars. Lynda.com has been in the process of moving its headquarters, staff and employees to Carpinteria from the Ventura area for the past year.

The Santa Barbara driver of a tow truck was arrested after he hit  mother and her two small children at the intersection of Vineland Avenue and Simon Way in Oxnard shortly after noon yesterday (Tuesday).  The children, who are in critiacal condition, were dragged underneath the tow truck for about a quarter mile before pedestrians and motorists were able to get the driver to stop. Oxnard police say the driver, 45-year-old Mehran Khamseh, was making a left turn on a green light when he hit the 19-year-old mother, along with her three year-old daughter and one year old son who were in a stroller.  They were crossing the street on a green light as well, according to police. Again, both children lived, but are in critical condition. The mother received moderate injuries when she was knocked to the ground. The tow truck driver was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.

A woman accused of stealing more than $850,000 from her former employer may be close to settling the case before it goes to trial.  Angela Phillips worked as an administrative assistant for the Windsor Capital Group of Carpinteria.  She voluntarily turned herself into authorities in March, 2009. Her lawyer met behind closed doors with the prosecutor and the judge assigned to case on Monday. Phillips is due back in court next week, but it’s not known if she intends to make a settlement plea at that time.  (She’s facing four counts of embezzlement and 12 counts of forgery).

The woman accused of scamming an elderly Santa Barbara couple out of $19,000 to supposedly help them save their home from foreclosure will have to wait a bit longer to find out if the case can be settled out of court.  Denise D’Sant Angelo was in court earlier this week for discussions on the matter, but was told she’d have to return on September 27th for more talks. D’Sant Angelo has been in custody since late March when she was convicted of scamming a group of nuns out of money meant to help them relocate when the home they were using was sold by the Archdiocese of L.A. She was sentenced to two years in state prison in that case which is separate from the elder abuse charges.    

The Santa Barbara man accused of killing his brother and his brother’s life partner over a business deal gone sour could have his trial begin sometime in October. The prosecution contends that Corey Lyons shot his brother, Daniel, and Barbara Scharton over a dispute that grew out of construction issues of the home on Aurora Avenue where the bodies were found on May 4th, 2009. The case is expected to be in court next week when Superior Court Judge Brian may set a date for jury selection.  Hill suggested he may also allow the exclusion of potential jurors who’ve heard of the high profile shooting.