Full Notification

At approximately 6:00 a.m. this morning, August 23, a Montecito couple observed a suspect break into its vehicle in the 100 block of Olive Mill Rd. The suspect fled towards Coast Village Road and was observed by other citizens fleeing towards the City of Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Police Officers and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene.  A SBPD sergeant, minutes later, observed a male matching the description of the suspect walking westbound in the 1200 block of Coast Village Road. The suspect refused to stop and a foot pursuit ensued. The sergeant was able to apprehend the suspect but was injured in the process.  He was treated at a local medical facility.  The suspect received minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

The suspect, who originally provided a false identity to law enforcement, has been positively identified as 22-year-old Daniel Ricketts of Ventura.  Ricketts was found to be in possession of stolen property from other reported auto burglaries and thefts from autos in the Montecito area.  There were eleven cases reported overnight in the area. Ricketts is booked on charges of burglary, resisting arrest with injury, identity theft, petty theft, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara Police Department want to take this opportunity to commend the citizens who reported the incident right away and provided information on the fleeing suspect.  We also want to remind vehicle owners to utilize anti-theft devices, lock their vehicle doors/windows and keep their valuables out of plain view.

If you have any information on the string of auto burglaries and thefts from autos overnight in the Montecito area including any suspicious subjects involved, please call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4100.