SANTA BARBARA - A man (Michael Jon Helman, age 47) who was allegedly acting lewd in San Roque area, led police and locals on car chase that ended with the man crashing into several cars, and a fence as he tried to escape police.

 

Police Dispatchers started getting calls began receiving calls of a nude driver cruising San Roque neighborhoods, occasionally getting out and committing lewd acts in the afternoon on Monday (2/1/10). Just after 1 p.m. a caller driving at Alamar and Foothill said that a man was in the street committing a lewd act while nude except for a red baseball hat.

 

The man got into a Green 1995 Geo and drove away. The caller followed the man while calling 9-1-1, and reported the direction the suspect was traveling. When the man realized he was being followed he allegedly sped up, running red lights and stop-signs.

 

He managed to elude the witness in the area of Calle Noguera. Police went to the address the car was registered tobut nobody was there.  At 2:45, police say the suspect reportedly drove past a day-care center located on 3800 Sunset Avenue. Authorities said several more calls came from witnesses in the area of Stacy Lane, Lincolnwood, and La Cumbre Road.  Again, the suspect was reportedly committing lewd acts upon himself.

 

SB police officer Washington arrived and spotted the suspect vehicle on La Cumbre Road.  Washington turned on his cruisers lights and siren, but the suspect continued onto La Cumbre Hills Road, a short dead-end street.

 

Authorities said "when Helman reached the cul-de-sac, his egress was blocked by a police vehicle. He crashed into the police car, backed up, and crashed into a fence. Another police car pulled up to completely seal any exit. Never-the-less, the suspect crashed into another parked car, and attempted to get around the blockade by jumping the curb. As additional officers arrived on-foot, the suspect swerved at them, apparently trying to run them over. The suspect crashed into a third parked vehicle before coming to rest in a planter. "

 

The car was totaled and the suspect was arrested, treated Cottage Hospital for a minor injury and then released back to the police.

 

Helman was booked at Count Jail for: evading arrest amounting to a felony; two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for attempting to run over the officers; felony resisting arrest; possession of cocaine; and parole violation. He is held without bail. Other charges may be pending; the suspect’s photo is being withheld pending further investigation.