Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies arrested three people early Wednesday in connection with a Carpinteria Valley cannabis farm burglary, spokesperson Raquel Zick confirmed.

Multiple sheriff’s units responded just before 3 a.m. to a report of the burglary on the 4500 block of Foothill Road and at least two related traffic collisions.

The suspects had “fled the area in several vehicles,” including a blue BMW SUV, which was found overturned near Foothill and Santa Monica roads, Zick said.

She added that three suspects were “attempting to flee from the vehicle” when deputies arrived.

“Deputies removed the suspects from the vehicle and detained two without incident,”
Zick said. “A third suspect became combative and was taken into custody using a Taser.”

She said a handgun was found inside the vehicle.

The suspects did not sustain significant injuries, Zick said.

A Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District spokesperson confirmed to Noozhawk that its crews responded to a traffic collision in the area of Foothill and Santa Monica roads just after 3 a.m., and that a person refused care “once he was in the sheriff’s vehicle.”

Deputies located a second vehicle, a black-and-white Infiniti, abandoned near Foothill Road and Cravens Lane.

Zick said investigators “received information indicating the occupants may have
entered a third vehicle that fled the area.”

Of the three suspects in the blue BMW who were arrested Wednesday, two were 17-year-olds. They were booked at the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy, obstruction and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Police on Friday identified the third as Abraham Bustos of Lynwood, 21. He was booked on suspicion of several felony charges, including child endangerment, carrying a loaded handgun, grand theft, conspiracy, burglary, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Sheriff’s Office first sent out an alert to the community to avoid the area near Foothill Road between Santa Monica Road and Linden Avenue just before 4:30 a.m. Those in the area were also asked to shelter in place shortly after.

Zick said multiple sheriff’s units, including a K9 and a helicopter, were in the area.

The shelter-in-place order was lifted at about 5:30 a.m.

The Santa Barbara Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Ventura County
Sheriff’s Office and Santa Barbara County Air Support also assisted on the incident.