Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley made a visit to UC Santa Barbara’s Campus Point on Sunday as part of the investigation into a “suspicious death” that occurred there late last week.
Dudley, who was accompanied by UCSB police Sgt. Greg Smorodinsky, confirmed to Noozhawk that she was there as part of the ongoing probe into the Thursday evening death of a university staff member, but said she could not answer any questions.
Dudley and Smorodinsky started their trek at about 10:30 a.m. by walking west along the bluffs from Campus Point to a spot above the west end of the Campus Lagoon.
After surveying the area, they headed east, descending to the beach and continuing along the shoreline toward Campus Point.
They stopped to examine an area at the base of the 25-foot bluffs, below a stake that appeared to have yellow crime-scene tape on it.
Then they continued to Campus Point, where Smorodinsky appeared to be pointing out various areas to Dudley.
The significance of any of the stops was not clear.
UCSB police have provided only limited information about the incident, and have not released the name of the victim.
He was a man in his 50s who was found unconscious near the Campus Point bluffs by UCSB police officers responding to a report of a fight, according to Lt. David Millard.
Despite life-saving efforts, he was declared dead at the scene.
“Initial information revealed that some type of verbal or physical exchange had taken place between the individuals involved,” Millard said in a statement Sunday.
Sources have told Noozhawk that the death stemmed from an altercation at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday between a man on the beach and the victim, who may have been pushed over the cliff.
Police have not confirmed that scenario, however, and other sources have suggested that there could be another explanation for why and how the victim died.
The county Coroner’s Bureau will be conducting an autopsy Monday as part of its investigation, and Dudley said she will observe the procedure.
That forensic examination should yield evidence regarding any injuries or other conditions that could have caused or contributed to the man’s death.
What appears more certain is that the incident started with a dispute involving a dog while the victim and his wife were walking in the area. There reportedly were numerous witnesses to at least part of the altercation.
On Thursday night, a “person of interest” was detained and questioned in the case, reportedly after turning himself in at the Sheriff’s Department.
However, that man, who has not been identified by authorities, was later released.
No one was in custody Sunday, and no one has been charged in the case, Dudley said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact UCSB Police at 805.893.3446.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— 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.
