Full Notification

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office is requesting public assistance to locate a suspect who cut off his electronic monitoring device and fled from Sheriff’s deputies last night, April 14, 2016 at approximately 10:40 p.m. in the 100 block of south Turnpike Road. 

The incident began when Sheriff’s deputies responded to the east side of Vons in the Turnpike Shopping Center regarding a domestic dispute between 24-year-old Lev Daniel Zurita of Santa Barbara and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Melany Perez of Oxnard. When deputies arrived, the couple appeared to be arguing over a moped which deputies discovered was recently stolen out of the City of Santa Barbara.  When deputies attempted to contact Zurita, he fled southbound on foot down Turnpike Road and across Hollister Avenue.  He then jumped a brick wall and ran into the backyard of a residence in the 200 block of Rosemead Street.  Perez fled as well but was quickly located in front of San Marcos High School on Hollister Avenue. She was arrested for possession of stolen property and possession of a switchblade knife.

Sheriff’s deputies and UCSB Police officers from the Isla Vista Foot Patrol responded to assist in securing a perimeter and helping to search for the suspect.  A K-9 team and Santa Barbara County Air Support - Copter 2 was deployed to assist as well.  A reverse 911 was sent to neighbors on Rosemead Street to shelter in place until the search was complete.  Despite a thorough search of the area, Zurita could not be located.

Through the course of the investigation, deputies learned that Zurita was on probation and had a GPS monitoring device which was tracked to a residence in the 700 block of Quarantina Street in Santa Barbara.  Deputies responded to the residence and discovered the GPS device had been cut off. 

Zurita is still outstanding and is wanted for theft of a vehicle and resisting/obstructing/delaying a peace officer during the course of an investigation.  If you have any information on Zurita’s whereabouts, you should not approach him, and call 911.  To leave an anonymous tip, call 805-681-4171.

Please note the booking photo of Zurita is from March of 2016.