Three Arizona men were arrested in Goleta Thursday in connection with a kidnapping and robbery that occurred a few hours earlier in Carpinteria, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched at about 5:40 a.m. to the Chevron gas station at Via Real and Santa Monica Road in Carpinteria, after a woman reported that she had been kidnapped and robbed by three men, said Raquel Zick, sheriff’s public information officer.
“Deputies learned that an adult female victim had been kidnapped and robbed using force by three suspects who fled in a vehicle prior to deputies’ arrival,” Zick said, adding that one of the suspects was believed to be armed.
The victim did not require medical attention and remained on scene, Zick said.
About three hours later, an alert citizen who had learned of the robbery from local media reported to sheriff’s dispatchers that the suspect vehicle, a gold colored sedan with a flat tire, was at a tire store on the 200 block of South Fairview Avenue, Zick said.
Deputies converged on the area, and took the three suspects into custody without incident, Zick said, adding that one of the men was found to be in possession of a concealed firearm.
South Fairview Avenue was shut down for a short time while deputies arrested the trio.
The suspects are all from Tucson, Zick said, and were identified as Barry Mullins, 22, Seanray Allen, 22, and James Johnson, 18.
All three were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of felony robbery, conspiracy, and kidnapping, Zick said.
Mullins also was booked on misdemeanor charges including carrying a loaded firearm in a public place and carrying a concealed weapon.
Bail for each was set at $1 million.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all community members who were keeping an eye out for these suspects,” Zick said. “We would also like to highlight the sound judgment of the witness who stayed a safe distance away, immediately called 9-1-1, and provided helpful information for responding units.”
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.