From KEYTThe man gave himself up at midmorning west of downtown Santa Barbara at Highway 101, a major route along the California coast. No shots were fired. Traffic was backed at least three miles in each direction.
The man agreed to give up after he was allowed to attach a Barack Obama campaign sign and the flag to the overpass railing, said police Sgt. Jim Pfleging.
Police were continuing to investigate a duffel bag and the man's car at the scene but "we have no credible threats or any threats of explosives," Pfleging said.
Police identified the man as 28-year-old Eddie Van Tassel. Pfleging said the man is believed to be a service veteran and will receive a mental health evaluation.
The man, wearing a ski mask and brown fatigues, had the flag in one hand and the gun in the other when officers arrived on the highway's La Cumbre Avenue overpass just after 7:10 a.m., said police Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte.
A police special weapons and tactics team and a crisis negotiation team used a bullhorn to communicate with him. After nearly three hours, he put the handgun on the ground and walked backward to police officers.
All I have to say about this kook is that he made me an hour late to work. Thanks for fucking up most of SB's morning selfish prick. Put a sign on your god damn lawn!
On Wednesday, October 15, the Santa Barbara Police and County Sheriff’s Department joined with federal and state agencies to crack down on the Eastside gang as part of Operation Gator Roll. (Go here for detailed coverage.) On October 16, Santa Barbara Police released the following names of those arrested or already in custody as part of the roundup. The grand total in custody is 59, with more sweeps and arrests expected. Not listed here are four juveniles and another 100 people who have already been arrested over the past year as part of this investigation.
● ISMAEL PARRA, 23; Nickname: Ishboo; Alleged Role: drug-dealing to gang
● JOSE GONZALEZ JR., 20; Nickname: Scrappy; Alleged Role: Assaults including 2006 baseball-bat attack in Isla Vista
● MIGUEL PARRA, 20; Nickname: Tripps; Alleged Role: Selling cocaine to gang
● ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, 20; Nickname: Stilo; Alleged Role: Using Molotov cocktail
● FRANCISCO ANTHONY ALCARAZ, 21; Nickname: Stranger; Alleged Role: Gang soldier
● FERNANDO MARCO ALCARAZ, 18; Nickname: Lil Stranger; Alleged Role: Gang soldier
● HUMBERTO OLVERA, 24; Nickname: Danger; Alleged Role: Knife attack
● PEDRO RENE GARCIA, 27; Nickname: Oso; Alleged Role: Gang leader
● ALFREDO ORNELAS, 23; Nickname: Capone; Alleged Role: Gang soldier
● JESUS MARTINEZ, 18; Nickname: Peke and Lil Pac Man; Alleged Role: gang leader
● REYNALDO FERER-DOROTEO, 36
● IVAN GARCIA, 18
● ROBERTO AREBALO AMADOR, 20; Nickname: Lil Oso; Alleged Role: 2007 gang attack
● JESSE GARZA PEREZ, 40; Nickname: Chili Red; Alleged Role: Selling heroin to gang
● BRIAN JASSO ORTIZ, 22; Nickname: Villain; Alleged Role: attack at Jack in the Box
● OCTAVIO MARIN, 20; Nickname: Lil Tu; Alleged Role: Soldier
● JOSE CAMPOVERDE, 20; Nickname: Big Boy; Alleged Role: Racial attack on African American
● JOSHUA ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ, 22; Nickname: Sinner; Alleged Role: Attempted murder of African American
● SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ COVARRUBIAS, 22; Nickname: Seabass; Alleged Role: Made Molotov cocktail
● ROBERT MARTINEZ, 22; Nickname: Lil Bullet; Alleged Role: Conpiracy to murder
● CARL SAMUEL FLORES, 26; Nickname: Lil Kill; Alleged Role: Conspiracy to murder
● IVAN QUEZADA, 23; Nickname: Pac Man; Alleged Role: Baseball-bat attack
● OMAR RAMOS, 18; Nickname: Sleepy; Alleged Role: Knife attack
● ARIEL RANGEL COLON JR., 21; Nickname: Huero; Alleged Role: Attack on African American
● XAVIER JESUS ALVAREZ, 25; Nickname: Malo; Alleged Role: Knife attack
● MARTIN MENDEZ, 24; Nickname: Lil Shyboy; Alleged Role: Selling methamphetamine to gang
● ELSON LEYVA TAPIA 25; Nickname: Yuyo; Alleged Role: Cocaine sale
● ENRIQUE MORAN, 21; Nickname: Silent; Alleged Role: Soldier
● EDWIN ORLANDO BAY, 20; Alleged Role: Soldier
● JOSE PEDRO ZAVALA, 22; Nickname: Lonely and Shy; Alleged Role: Attack on non-gang member
Come join Leanna and the J SEVEN
Santa Barbara Corporate Girls on the loose in Los Angeles. We started the night off at talent agency CAA's Young Hollywood party at Social Hollywood. The venue was nice but the party was just OK. No celebs, just a bunch of LA posers. But the important thing is that I had fun with my girls, however, there was NO man kandy to jock, damn. After leaving the party when the open bar closed, we hit up LA club Le Duex. Now that was fun! My first time there.