Full Notification

In May 2015 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department made 32 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 May’s cases.

5/1/15 at 10:03 p.m.: Rosario Trinidad Cy Mendoza (age 78) was involved in a collision at the intersection of De La Guerra Street and Chapala Street when he rear-ended another vehicle. Drinking Driver Team Officer Denbrook was in the area, heard the collision, and responded to investigate. He contacted the involved drivers and noticed that Mendoza smelled of alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated. Officer Denbrook initiated a DUI investigation of Mendoza, who stated that he had consumed “a few” drinks prior to driving. Mendoza repeatedly stated that he always drinks and drives and did not understand what the issue was. Officer Denbrook determined that Mendoza was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest for DUI. Mendoza chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .19 and .19. Mendoza was issued a citation for DUI.

5/8/15 at 11:07 p.m.: William Leyva (age 32) was involved in hit-and-run collision on the 1300 block of Chino Street when he struck two parked cars. Witnesses called 9-1-1 and reported that Leyva was running away from the collision scene. They provided Leyva’s description and direction of travel to dispatch, enabling Drinking Driver Team Officer Denbrook and Officer Beltran to locate Leyva hiding on a stairway at Bohnett Park. Leyva was holding the keys to the involved vehicle, which was later found to be registered to him. Officer Denbrook detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Leyva. As Officer Denbrook and Officer Beltran escorted Leyva to a lit area of the park, Leyva became non-compliant and attempted to punch Officer Beltran on the face. Leyva was directed to the ground, where he continued to physically resist being handcuffed. He was eventually, however, taken into custody. Leyva was arrested for DUI and submitted to a breath test which registered his BAC at .20 and .20. Leyva was booked into County Jail for DUI, resisting an officer with threat or violence, and hit-and-run.

5/10/15 at 2:14 a.m.: Ian Henry Desantis (age 25) was involved in a-hit and-run collision in City Lot 11 when he collided with a parked vehicle and then fled the scene. A witness flagged down a passing officer who broadcasted a description of Desantis’s vehicle. Moments later, Officer Beltran located Desantis’s fleeing vehicle traveling the wrong way on a one-way street, eastbound on Gutierrez Street. Officer Beltran then observed the vehicle attempt to enter onto the freeway at Garden Street and subsequently collide with a concrete wall. Officer Beltran detained Desantis and Officer Freytag responded to assist. Officer Freytag contacted Desantis and noticed that he smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared intoxicated. Paramedics arrived and transported Desantis to Cottage Hospital, where Officer Freytag continued with a DUI investigation. Desantis stated that he had been drinking “a couple of beers and some whiskey” and eventually admitted that he was too intoxicated to safely drive. He was placed under arrest for DUI and chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .24 and .23. Upon release from the hospital Desantis was booked into County Jail for DUI and hit-and-run.

5/15/15 at 2:00 p.m.: Thomas W. Gully (age 50) was stopped by Officer Molina for driving through a red light at the intersection of Chapala Street and Figueroa Street. Upon contacting Gully Officer Molina noticed that he smelled strongly of alcohol and had slurred speech. Officer Molina attempted to conduct a DUI investigation; however Gully refused to answer any questions or perform any field sobriety tests. A records check revealed that Gully is on probation for DUI. Officer Molina arrested Gully for DUI and he chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .20, .10, and .19. Gully was booked into County Jail.

5/17/15 at 9:13 p.m.: Karen Susan Mikosz (age 39) was involved in a traffic collision on the 700 block of San Pascual Street when she struck a parked car, causing chain reaction collisions with two additional parked vehicles. Officer Kamin responded to investigate and was informed by bystanders that Mikosz was the involved driver. Upon contacting Mikosz Officer Kamin noticed that she smelled of alcohol, had red watery eyes, and unsteady balance. Mikosz explained that the collision occurred when she attempted to light a cigarette while driving. Officer Kamin conducted a DUI investigation, during which Mikosz acknowledged consuming two glasses of wine prior to driving. Officer Kamin subsequently arrested Mikosz for DUI and she chose to submit to a breath test which registered her BAC at .15 and .15. Mikosz was issued a citation for DUI and booked into the Sobering Center.

5/20/15 at 6:10 p.m.: Suzanne Daley Bender (age 35) was involved in a traffic collision on the 2600 block of Las Positas Road when she rear-ended another vehicle. Officer Kamin responded to investigate and upon contacting Bender noticed that she smelled of alcohol and had poor balance. Bender denied drinking any alcohol. Officer Kamin conducted a DUI investigation and based on Bender’s performance on the field sobriety tests and the symptoms of intoxication that she displayed, arrested her for DUI. Bender chose to submit to a blood test which registered her BAC at .25. Bender was booked into County Jail.

5/28/15 at 10:00 p.m.: Mario Hector Ramirez-Calderon (age 30) was involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision when he struck a parked car on the 1900 block of Robbins Street and fled. The reporting party advised dispatch that the suspect vehicle was a white Dodge Caravan driven by a Hispanic male adult. The description was broadcast and shortly thereafter Officer Castro observed the suspect vehicle on Calle Real in the vicinity of the County Jail. Officer Beltran responded there to assist with the search and located the suspect vehicle parked in a parking lot on the 200 block of San Antonio Road. Ramirez-Calderon was standing to the front of his damaged van. He acknowledged having been involved in a collision. While speaking with Ramirez-Calderon Officer Beltran noticed that he displayed slurred speech and slightly unsteady balance. Officer Peterson responded with debris from the accident scene that was found to match the damage to Ramirez-Calderon’s vehicle. Officer Corral responded and conducted a DUI investigation of Ramirez-Calderon in Spanish. Officer Corral determined that Ramirez-Calderon was too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle and arrested him for DUI. Ramirez-Calderon chose to submit to a breath test which registered his BAC at .18 and .18. Ramirez-Calderon was booked into County Jail for DUI and hit-and-run.