Sheriff’s deputies were searching in Solvang Wednesday afternoon for a man who fled on foot after a high-speed vehicle pursuit on Highway 246.
Three other suspects — two adults and a juvenile — were taken into custody, according to Raquel Zick, a sheriff’s public information officer.
At about noon, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department notified residents in the Skytt Mesa Drive and Hans Christian Andersen Park areas to shelter in place while deputies looked for the suspects.
The shelter-in-place directive was canceled at about 12:50 p.m.
The incident began at about 11:25 a.m., when deputies attempted to pull over a tan Toyota Corolla for speeding near Highway 246 and Purisima Road, according to Raquel Zick, a sheriff’s public information officer.
The driver refused to yield, and fled eastbound on Highway 246, reaching speed in excess of 100 mph and passing over double yellow lines, according to emergency radio traffic.
As the vehicle entered the city of Buellton, it turned northbound on Avenue of the Flags, where it was involved in a minor, non-injury collision, Zick said.
Moments later, the vehicle made a U-turn and headed back to Highway 246, where it was involved in a second minor, non-injury collision, Zick said.
At that point, according to emergency radio traffic, the pursuit was discontinued as it was “getting too dangerous.”
Shortly before noon, the Sheriff’s Department was advised by the California Highway Patrol that it was receiving 9-1-1 calls about people fleeing from an abandoned vehicle in the Skytt Mesa neighborhood.
Deputies converged on the area, and searched for the suspects, with the aid of a county helicopter and two K-9 units.
Taken into custody were Jasen Robles, 24, and Maya Winters, 20, both of Santa Maria, and a 17-year-old male juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, Zick said.
Robles was arrested on a felony warrant for auto theft and robbery, while Winters is accused of possessing drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest, Zick said.
Both may face additional charges, she added.
The juvenile was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
The suspect who remained at large was described only as a Hispanic male with facial hair wearing a dark hoodie.
Anyone with information about the identity of the outstanding suspect is encouraged to call the sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 805.681.4171 or go to the department’s website.
— 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.