Carpinteria, Calif. – The Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team (SET) arrested a Carpinteria man after he donned a ballistic vest and threatened deputies. This case began on Monday, January 6, 2025, when deputies responded to the Sandpiper Mobile Homes in the 3900-block of Via Real for a report of a disturbance. Deputies learned that 52-year-old Phillip Cummings was in a verbal altercation with a neighbor and construction worker that escalated when he hit his elderly neighbor in the face and slapped her phone out of her hand.

Shortly after deputies arrived, Cummings returned to his residence and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Krysta Thompson, arrived in the parking lot, intruded on the investigation, and intimidated the victim who Cummings had just punched. Deputies arrested Thompson for obstruction (misdemeanor), dissuading a witness (felony), and elder abuse (felony) and she was booked at the Main Jail.

Deputies returned their focus to Cummings, who refused to exit the residence to speak with them. Cummings spoke to deputies through a window, wearing a ballistic vest and telling them that he intended to grab his handgun. In the interest of public safety, deputies refocused their attention on pursuing a warrant and developing a plan to take Cummings safely into custody.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m., SET deployed to the Sandpiper Mobile Homes with a search and arrest warrant for Cummings. Deputies evacuated neighboring residents and quickly took Cummings into custody without further incident. Inside of Cumming’s residence, deputies recovered a loaded handgun, loaded shotgun and the ballistic vest that he had previously donned. Cummings was booked at the Main Jail for obstruction (felony), threats (felony), battery (misdemeanor), elder abuse (felony), and damaging a communication device (felony). Cummings is being held on an enhanced bail of $1,000,000.

The victim declined medical attention at the scene. Thompson has since been released from custody.