Orcutt Standoff Ends Peacefully (UPDATED) 06/01/09

Orcutt - May 31st, 2009

At approximately 9:11am on Sunday, May 31, 2009, a neighbor notified the SBSO that shots had been fired from a handgun from the rear of a residence on the 39-hundred block of Orcutt Road, (parallel to Highway 135 next to the Santa Maria Airport).

Sheriff’s Deputies formed a perimeter and were able to evacuate nearby residents and some members of the home in question, but were not able make contact with the suspected shooter. The Department’s Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) was summoned while the California Highway Patrol assisted in diverting traffic.

During this time, Department negotiators attempted to make contact with what was believed to be three individuals still inside the residence. They eventually were able to speak to someone via phone and instruct two more men to come out of the home, which they did at approximately 12:20pm. Members of the S.E.T. then entered the home and eventually took a third male into custody without incident at approximately 12:45pm. Any charges are pending as Sheriff’s Detectives interview all three adult males. No one appears to have been injured by the gunfire.

It should be noted that the highly skilled members of the Department’s S.E.T. are trained to end potentially volatile situations peacefully and without injury, which is exactly what happened in this operation.

During the incident Highway 135 from Foster Road to Skyway Lane was closed to traffic from approximately 11:20am to approximately 1:15pm. Orcutt Road was reopened at approximately 1:45pm.

UPDATE 06/01/09

Alfredo Escobar Lopez (DOB 8/30/88) was arrested and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on Sunday, May 31, 2009 for firing a weapon in a grossly negligent manner (Felony 246 P.C.) and possession of a false government document (472 P.C.). Through their investigation Detectives were able to determine that Mr. Lopez had been drinking alcohol all night and had fired the gun in celebration. Mr. Lopez, who is a resident of Mexico, remains in jail on a no bail immigration hold. The other two men who were held for questioning have been released.

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