- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Business
- Politics
- School Zone
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
Officials Say Mum’s the Word Until Tea Fire Investigation is Complete
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office issued a news release Thursday saying it will not comment further on the ongoing Tea Fire investigation until it is complete.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department offered further explanations for what some people might perceive as a delay in revealing more information. A couple of weeks ago, the department announced that nine of the 10 suspects are students at Santa Barbara City College, who had held a bonfire.
Sugars said the department and the district attorney are trying to determine whether all 10 of the people were responsible for the fire. If not, there might not be a need to release all of the names, he said.
“If we release all 10 names out there,” he said, “once you ring that bell, you can’t unring it.”
Sugars added that there has been some misunderstanding about the interaction between the department and the district attorney. He said some untrue rumors have alleged that the department still hasn’t turned anything over. On the contrary, he said, the sheriff’s department handed over its report to the district attorney more than a week ago, but since then some more information trickled in.
Sugars said the sheriff’s department actually made the announcement about the 10 people a little earlier than it would have under normal circumstances. That, he said, was to quell any concern that there could be a rogue arsonist on the loose.
For its part, the district attorney’s office began investigating the case Monday. Sugars said the report is about as thick as a phone book.
The news release from the district attorney’s office said it will announce any decision regarding criminal charges after thorough review and analysis.
“In order to maintain the integrity of this complex and important fire investigation, the office will have no further comment until that time,” it said.
Write to rkuznia@noozhawk.com.
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules as part of Noozhawk's shared online community. Please keep your comments civil and helpful. Don't attack other readers personally, and do not use vulgar, abusive or discriminatory language. Use the "Report Abuse" link if a comment violates these standards or our Terms of Use.
» on 12.05.08 @ 02:53 AM
The day after four thugs from out of town rob two stores on state street their names are in the paper. Weeks after the fire, damages in $200 million plus range, and still no word from law enforcement on who these individuals are. Disgusting. Integrity? I think not. Send Sheriff Brown back to Lompoc!
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.05.08 @ 06:04 AM
I believe it is important to show these young people a lot of grace, if in fact they presented themselves to the police and admitted to having a bonfire the night before the fire.
They did what many of us might have done when we were younger. Clearly, they made a poor decision in having a fire in a dry and fire prone area.
I don’t have to know what their names are…but I want them to know that if asked I will come alongside the following ways:
Are they ready, willing and able to serve their community in some positive and constructive way?
If so, let’s invite them to work with us on rebuilding our homes.
Let’s also invite them to join us serving lunch to the homeless and addicted.
Let’s invite them to come and worship with us, and give them the opportunity to ask for forgiveness.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.05.08 @ 08:22 AM
Could one or more of these suspects be related to some SB mover and shaker?????
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.05.08 @ 10:13 AM
There is a rumor going around that one of the 10 students responsible for starting the fire is from a prominent Santa Barbara family with “connections” and who put pressure on the sheriff to not disclose the names of the students.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.05.08 @ 08:05 PM
Dear Doug Crawford,
Thank you for your comment. I was scare from hearing in many instances that these young adults should be punished. Thanks for the suggestion of inviting them to rebuild. It should be a community effort, we all should help to rebuilt instead of blaming 10 of our children, 10 students who are not just on the street but studying.
I am hopeful that we will come to our senses and stop the blaming and the suffering and just focus on helping the ones who need our help and support.
Let’s love be the ingredient that suffices to rebuild not just the houses, but our spirits and our community.
In peace,
mdelc
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.08.08 @ 09:10 AM
I don’t understand why everyone is so eager to destroy the lives of 10 young people who already have a HUGE burden to bear the rest of their lives???!!!!
Publicizing their names will totally destroy their lives and could possibly endanger their safety with all the crazies out there.
Maybe it’s because I have 2 college age kids that I feel so sensitive to this. Put yourselves in their parent’s shoes.
I know we don’t have all the information yet but we DO know they thought they put the campfire completely out.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.08.08 @ 11:27 AM
What are the odds these are NOT young adults with connections? First, how does anyone who’s NOT a local even know where the Tea House is?
Second, why all the hush-hush? Yeah…
If we as a society continue to give people a free pass and not hold them accountable, FIRES will keep happening. Happened in Malibu. Happened here. I admire MADD because they did not sit back and allow drunk driving to keep happening.
These young adults should be made an example of (in the media, and by helping to rebuild, and any other EFFECTIVE, PRESS-PRODUCING means to spread the word.) So that all adults will THINK before they STRIKE a match.
This was STUPID, CARELESS, DANGEROUS, TRAGIC and these young adults are RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.08.08 @ 06:18 PM
As always, lots of rumour, lots of presumption, lots of suspicion. Let’s just wait for the investigation report. What if the names were released, some nut job killed one of the suspects, and the suspect turned out to be innocent? If these blogs are any indicator, there is no shortage of mob mentality in this town. What’s the IQ of a mob? Take the lowest IQ in the group and divide by the size of the group.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.09.08 @ 07:35 AM
I live next door to the Tea Garden. For years people have been trespassing and doing stupid things, especially young people.
Whatever the circumstances are for keeping the names quiet, eventually there will be an accounting for them. What and how that turns out will demand the community’s attention.
Getting their names right now will not make for better justice. In fact, history suggests the opposite.
The individual named as responsible for the Sycamore Canyon fire suffered for years, and his ‘crime’ was flying a kite that got tangled in the power lines.
People will take these young people’s names and harass them, threaten them, and sue them. It is hard to see what good will come of it by starting today.
Contrary to what is suggested here, nobody thoughtless and careless enough to handle fire irresponsibly will be impacted one bit by a previous prosecution. Unlike those who would perpetrate violent crimes, these kids are not a threat to public safety today or tomorrow.
Inequitable application of the justice system is an important issue for society, locally as well as nationally. All this passion should march itself down to the courthouse and observe the daily struggle of the DA to cope with the incompetent as well as the antisocial. Figure out how to address the overwhelming flood of ills that create a criminal class, and the flaws in the justice system that create further injustice.
Get involved in rebuilding our community instead of looking for more ways to vent hostility. Be constructive in your actions.
Keep calling for justice, not vengeance.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.09.08 @ 04:30 PM
These kids need to make restitution. They need to feel they did not get away with manslaughter and arson. They need to get in and rebuild people’s homes. I don’t care if they do jail time, but I feel strongly they should be doing community service and helping financially as much as they can. They, for god’s sake, need to never have a barbecue until they understand how to put it out, for real. They need to teach other kids these same lessons. If a person hits someone or something, they have to pay a penalty, and make some kind of victim restitution. That is what needs to happen here.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 12.11.08 @ 12:20 PM
Did they break the law? If so like all of us including our youths when we break the laws we have consequences to deal with. $200 million in losses including the emotional pain of displaced families and unreplaceable memories is not a call for a slap on the hand. I do think though that a full investigation must be done before names are released.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
More Local News »
Authorities Locate SBCC Student Reported Missing
His mother had asked for the public's help finding her 20-year-old 'special needs' son
Red Flag Warning Canceled; Wind Advisory Still in Effect
Sunny skies are expected to give way to some clouds over the weekend
Santa Barbara Breaks Record With High of 86 Degrees
Previous mark for May 23 was 82, set in 1949, according to the National Weather Service
Santa Maria Man Facing Child Molestation Charges
Victim reports being sexually abused over a period of time by the suspect
Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Suspect in Retail Thefts
Surveillance photo shows person wanted in connection with thefts at two Santa Barbara stores
Weather: A Few Clouds 52.0º
Search Noozhawk »
