DUI Round-Up, 30 Arrests in September 2014
In September 2014 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department made 30 arrests for driving under the influence violations. Arrests are made each month when concerned citizens call 9-1-1 after witnessing possible DUI drivers. The SBPD would like to thank the responsible citizens who take the time to call and report suspected drunk drivers. The following is information on a few of last month’s cases.
9/5/14 at 11:22 p.m.: Michael Anthony Papa (age 22) caught the attention of Harbor Patrol officers when they heard him being questioned by a companion on 200 Harbor Way, asking Papa if he was okay to drive. A short while later they saw Papa driving away on his scooter with his companion riding as passenger. The Harbor Patrol officers observed that Papa’s scooter had a broken tail lamp and saw him fail to stop for a stop sign, prompting them to initiate a traffic stop for the violations on the 00 block of Bath Street. Upon contacting Papa the Harbor Patrol officers observed signs of intoxication and requested Drinking Driver Team Officer Denbrook respond. Officer Denbrook contacted Papa, found that he did not have a valid endorsement to drive a scooter and saw that he appeared intoxicated. Officer Denbrook conducted a DUI investigation during which Papa stated that he had consumed two 22-ounce IPA beers prior to driving. Papa performed poorly on field sobriety tests and Officer Denbrook determined that he was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle. Papa was placed under arrest for DUI and he chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .15 and .15. Papa was issued a citation for DUI.
9/6/14 at 2:00 a.m.: Christian Arellano (age 21) collided with another vehicle stopped in traffic and then drove up onto the sidewalk on the 00 block of W. Haley Street. Several people witnessed the collision, observed Arellano driving, and stopped to help. Police arrived and Arellano initially told Officer Clark that he had been driving, later told Officer Ford that an intoxicated friend had been driving and left the scene, and then finally admitted to Officer Denbrook that he had indeed been driving when the collision occurred. Officer Denbrook, who had been called to evaluate Arellano for DUI, saw that Arellano appeared very intoxicated. Arellano was found to be on probation for DUI and stated that he had consumed two 24-ounce beers prior to driving. Officer Denbrook determined that Arellano was far too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest for DUI. Arellano provided one breath sample per the terms of his probation, and then submitted to a blood test; his BAC registered .25 on all samples. Arellano was booked into County Jail for DUI.
9/12/14 at 1:57 p.m.: Dana Lee Bird (age 27) was involved in a hit-and-run collision with another motorist in the area of 2500 Puesta Del Sol. The victim followed Bird, called 9-1-1, and observed her collide with a telephone pole and again leave the scene. The victim eventually lost sight of Bird’s vehicle, however Officer Barriga was able to locate the damaged car along with Bird at her residence shortly thereafter. Bird stated that she had been drinking at Harry’s Plaza Café prior to driving. She gave inconsistent accounts as to how much alcohol she had consumed and stated that she was unaware that she had been involved in any collisions. Officer Barriga saw that Bird had fresh bruising on her arm and shoulder consistent with having been in an accident. Officer Barriga conducted a DUI investigation, determined that Bird was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle, and placed her under arrest for DUI. Bird chose to submit to a breath test which registered her BAC at .20 and .19. Following the investigation Bird started to complain of pain and was transported to Cottage Hospital for evaluation. Bird was issued a citation for DUI and hit-and-run and released to the care of Cottage Hospital.
9/13/14 at 1:59 a.m.: Davina Lyann Mora (age 30) was driving west on Haley Street, which is a one-way eastbound street. Sgt. Beecher was driving his patrol vehicle east on Haley Street when he observed Mora’s headlights coming directly toward him. Sgt. Beecher activated his emergency lights and then positioned his vehicle to protect another citizen who was also traveling east on Haley Street. Mora, failed to stop for Sgt. Beecher’s emergency lights, instead colliding head-on with his patrol car. Sgt. Beecher, along with Officer Harrison and Officer Sipes, contacted Mora who was in her car and unable to exit the driver-side door. Mora, who was uninjured, appeared dazed, confused, and intoxicated. Officer Sipes subsequently conducted a DUI investigation. Mora stated that she had only consumed one 12-ounce beer approximately four hours prior to the collision. Mora was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and was placed under arrest for DUI. Mora chose to submit to a breath test which registered her BAC at .23 and .22. She was booked into County Jail.
9/14/14 at 1:36 a.m.: Thiago De Souza Coelho (age 28) was observed by Sgt. Brown driving southbound on the 500 block of Bath Street, which is a one-way northbound street. Sgt. Brown initiated a traffic stop, contacted Coelho, and noticed that Coelho smelled of alcohol and was showing signs of intoxication. Coelho had difficulty understanding that he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Officer Sipes responded and conducted a DUI investigation on Coelho. Coelho stated that he had consumed two “Jack and Cokes” prior to driving. Officer Sipes had Coelho perform several field sobriety tests and determined that he was too intoxicated to safely drive a motor vehicle. Coelho was placed under arrest for DUI and he chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .15 and .15. Coelho was issued a citation for DUI and admitted into the Sobering Center.
9/20/14 at 2:45 a.m.: Oscar San Juan Mendoza (age 29) was observed driving approximately 80 MPH on the southbound Highway 101 by Officer Ragsdale. Officer Ragsdale conducted a traffic stop and contacted Mendoza at his passenger-side window. Officer Ragsdale noticed that Mendoza smelled strongly of alcohol, was slow to respond to instructions, had red and watery eyes, and was displaying signs of intoxication. Officer Ragsdale had Mendoza step out of the vehicle so that he could conduct a DUI investigation. Mendoza stated that he had consumed one or two beers several hours before driving. After having Mendoza perform several field sobriety tests, Officer Ragsdale determined that he was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest for DUI. Mendoza chose to submit to a blood test which registered his BAC at .15. Investigation revealed that Mendoza was on probation DUI. Mendoza was booked at County Jail for DUI.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara Police Department
215 East Figueroa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-897-2300
Sergeant Riley L. Harwood
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
805-897-2320