Santa Barbara, Calif. – Following a coordinated multi-day search, deputies have arrested the Santa Barbara man who fled after backing into a patrol car earlier in the week.  On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at approximately 6:05 p.m., deputies responded to the Patterson Place Apartments for a report of a suspicious individual inside a vehicle. Upon arrival, the first deputy encountered the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Anthony Torres-Lopez Jr. of Santa Barbara.

During the initial contact, Torres-Lopez deliberately reversed his BMW into the deputy’s patrol vehicle. He then accelerated forward, driving over a sidewalk and along a pedestrian walkway on the perimeter of the complex before colliding with a raised curb. Torres-Lopez abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Deputies, assisted by a Sheriff’s K9 unit, County Air Support, and allied agencies, conducted an extensive search of the area for several hours but were unable to locate the suspect.

The case was subsequently assigned to detectives, who identified a location associated with Torres-Lopez in the 700-block of Camino Cascada in Santa Barbara. During the investigation, detectives learned that Torres-Lopez was known to carry bear spray and was considered unlikely to surrender peacefully.

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, at approximately 2:23 p.m., deputies from the Criminal Investigations Division, along with members of the Special Enforcement Team, Crisis Negotiations Team, and Sheriff’s K9 Unit, served a warrant at the Camino Cascada residence. Torres-Lopez was not found in the residence; however, additional investigation assisted detectives in locating him later that night.. At approximately 11:23 pm, Torres-Lopez was arrested at Bath Street and Carillo Street in the City of Santa Barbara. He was booked at the Main Jail for his outstanding warrants for a violation of probation, a Ramey warrant for unlawful possession of teargas (felony) as well as an on-view charge of possession of narcotics for sales. He is being held without bail.