Santa Barbara, Calif. – A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputy was injured during a violent encounter with an armed individual while responding to a welfare check early Friday morning in Goleta.

On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 12:05 a.m., deputies responded to La Posada, located in the 4500-block of Hollister Avenue, after a man called Sheriff’s Dispatch in an agitated state and made alarming statements indicating he intended to harm someone. The caller disconnected and then called back minutes later, repeating the threat.

Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 12:13 a.m. and located the subject, later identified as 35-year-old Abu Bakr Sugich, near the northeast corner of the property. Sugich appeared extremely agitated. Deputies maintained distance and made repeated efforts to de-escalate the situation.

During the encounter, Sugich briefly walked away before returning and advancing toward a deputy. Without warning, Sugich produced a black hunting-style knife and stabbed Deputy Fabian Flores in the upper chest.  The suspect then continued his assault, but deputies were able to quickly gain control of him, take him to the ground, and place him in handcuffs.

Deputies immediately began providing medical aid to their injured partner. Deputy Flores was found to have a stab wound to the upper chest area, and personnel applied direct pressure to control the bleeding while requesting fire and medical response.

The injured deputy was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he was treated for a non-life threatening stab wound to the chest and received sutures. He was later released and is recovering at home. Sugich was booked at the Main Jail for felonies including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

This incident highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of law enforcement work, and the critical importance of de-escalation, teamwork, and rapid response in protecting both the public and our personnel.