Barricaded Suspect and Girlfriend Arrested
On April 12, 2016, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies from the Santa Maria Sheriff’s Substation responded to a family disturbance in the 2000 block of Briarwood Road located in the Tanglewood residential area of Orcutt. The incident involved 31-year-old Jose Luis Villareal and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Raquel Lopez AKA Raquel Reyes or Raquel Martinez.
When deputies arrived in the area, they immediately arrested Lopez for an outstanding $60,000 felony arrest warrant, charging assault with a deadly weapon.
When deputies attempted to make contact with Villareal at his residence on Briarwood Road, he barricaded himself in a bedroom and was reportedly armed with a replica BB pistol and a samurai sword. Deputies engaged Villareal in conversation while a reverse 9-1-1 was sent to area residents to notify them of the law enforcement activity.
Santa Maria Police officers assisted with traffic control and transportation of Lopez to the Santa Barbara County Jail, while Santa Barbara County Fire, American Medical Response paramedics, a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit helicopter and a K-9 team staged in the area.
After approximately one hour of communicating with deputies, Villareal surrendered without further incident. Villareal was arrested for two outstanding $60,000 felony arrest warrants charging assault with a deadly weapon, being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of an explosive device. The explosive device was made safe at the scene by deputies.
Villareal and Lopez were transported and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for the charges.
The case will be forwarded to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara County Sheriff
4434 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-681-4192