Suspect Who Led Law Enforcement on Two Pursuits in Lompoc is Arrested
The suspect who led law enforcement on two separate pursuits yesterday in the Lompoc area is in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail. This morning, just after 8:00 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies with the assistance of the Lompoc Police Department arrested 24-year-old Mario Perez Saldivar at a residence in the 500 block of N. L Street in the City of Lompoc.
The first pursuit occurred yesterday morning, May 15, at approximately 4:45 a.m., when a Lompoc Police Officer observed a stolen truck at the corner of North O Street and Oak Avenue. The truck had been stolen at approximately 8:00 p.m. on May 14, in the 1100 block of W. Cherry Avenue in the City of Lompoc. When the Lompoc Police Officer attempted to pull the vehicle over the driver refused to yield and sped off. A pursuit ensued and ended with the suspect driving through a lettuce field in the 2600 block of W. Central Avenue causing several thousand dollars in damage. The suspect fled on foot and despite an extensive search that included assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the suspect was not located.
At approximately 4:00 p.m. the same day, May 15, residents came home to find their home in the 2200 block of De Wolff Avenue in Lompoc had been broken into and they found the suspect still inside. The suspect who had a shaved head and was wearing a black wetsuit fled from the home and into the neighboring riverbed area. Sheriff’s deputies with the assistance of a Santa Barbara County Air Support helicopter and K-9 teams from the Sheriff’s Office and Lompoc Police Department searched for the suspect. Due to the location of the search, personnel from Federal Bureau of Prisons and United States Air Force Security Forces assisted as well. Unfortunately due to the heavy brush and thick mud the search had to be called off after several hours.
This morning, the Lompoc Police Department received information that the suspect was residing in a home in the 500 block of N. L Street in Lompoc. Sheriff’s deputies and Lompoc Police Officers responded to the location and Saldivar was arrested without incident.
Saldivar is booked on charges of second degree robbery and burglary and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara County Sheriff
4434 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-681-4192