SANTA BARBARA - Between March 3rd and 7th, Santa Barbara Police officers arrested 9 drivers for DUI including 3 arrests from a DUI checkpoint. In several cases DUI drivers either had passengers or stated that they were en route to pick up passengers. In addition to not drinking and driving, SBPD urges that passengers not ride with those who do, and take steps to prevent others from drinking and driving.
On 3/2 at 8:00 p.m., Officer Beltran monitored a call of a hit-and-run that just occurred on Modoc Road near Las Positas. A large Chevy Silverado pickup slammed into a parked truck, causing a chain-reaction collision involving 3 parked vehicles. The Silverado driver got out, looked at the damage, and drove away. A witness followed the suspect vehicle to the 1500 block of Dutton Avenue, and call 9-1-1. Officer Beltran arrived in time to catch Antonio Ordonez Martinez, age 22, still behind the wheel of his wrecked Silverado. Martinez was arrested for unlicensed driver, hit-and-run, and no insurance.
On 3/3 at 11:30 p.m., Officer Bacon stopped a 2001 Dodge van driven by Ronald Jess Pratt, age 46, for a lane violation at Carrillo and De la Vina Streets. Pratt was arrested for DUI; his passenger Jeffrey Tidd, age 46 was arrested on a $5,000 traffic warrant.
On 3/4 at 12:25 a.m., Officer Kerr was patrolling on east Haley Street when he saw a Chrysler Sebring driving the wrong way on Haley Street, headed right at him. Officer Kerr turned on his red lights and stopped. The Chrysler stopped momentarily before driving around the patrol car and turning onto State Street. Officer Thompson was nearby and made a traffic stop. The driver, Kristen Pfeiffer, age 25 was arrested for DUI. Her female passenger was arrested for public intoxication.
On 3/4 at 1:43 a.m., Officer Beutel, who works DUI enforcement, stopped Dong Tae Lee, age 25, in his 1999 Hyundai, for swerving in the 600 block of Chapala Street. Lee was arrested for DUI. There were 3 passengers in the vehicle.
On 3/4 at 2:35 p.m., Officer Gonzalez stopped Martin Munoz Cabrera, age 42, in his 1999 Dodge sedan, at 1300 Olive Street for running a stop sign and because a passenger was not wearing a seat belt. Cabrera gave a false name, but did not deceive Officer Gonzalez. Cabrera was arrested for being an unlicensed driver, providing a false name, and for a $10,000 warrant stemming from a theft case.
On 3/5 at 1:03 a.m., Officer Beutel saw a 2006 Mercedes driving east on Haley Street run a red light at Santa Barbara Street. The driver then slammed on the brakes and stopped in the intersection. When the light turned green, the driver ‘jumped’ on the accelerator. Officer Beutel made a traffic stop and arrested the driver, Camille Elizabeth Rutherford, age 25.
On 3/5 at 1:21 a.m., Officer Hill saw a 2001 Honda CR-V driving east on 1st block West Carrillo Street suddenly swerve around a bus stopped in front of the Canary Hotel. The swerving Honda nearly collided with the center divider and crossed over the center lane into the on-coming traffic lane. Officer Hill stopped the driver, Kendall Anna Cross, age 19, who appeared very intoxicated. Cross did not have identification and gave her roommate’s name. Cross claimed to be headed downtown to pick up her friends, ‘to keep them safe.’ Cross was arrested for DUI, providing a false name, no insurance, and possession of marijuana.
On 3/5 at 8:29 p.m., Officer Thompson was working a DUI checkpoint at 1400 Cliff Drive. He contacted Krista Lyn Hubbard, age 34, in her 2005 Chevy pickup. She displayed symptoms of alcohol consumption and was arrested for DUI.
On 3/5 at 8:59 p.m., Officer Klug was working a DUI checkpoint at 1400 Cliff Drive. He contacted Collin J. Alexander Parrish Yingling, age 24, in his Honda Civic. Yingling showed signs of alcohol consumption, and was arrested for DUI.
On 3/5 at 9:11 p.m., Officer Tudor was working a DUI checkpoint at 1400 Cliff Drive. He contacted Leslie Jaye Dziatkowicz, age 35, driving a 2001 Toyota pickup. Dziatkowicz showed signs of alcohol use, and was arrested for DUI.
On 3/7 at 2:17 a.m., Officer Mark Corbett stopped Kaiden Christopher Taylor, age 29, in her 1990 Honda Prelude for making an illegal U-Turn at 3500 State Street. Taylor was arrested for DUI. There were 2 passengers in the vehicle.