Goleta man killed when SUV slams into tree

KCOY (Video)

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - A Goleta man is dead after his SUV slammed into a tree Monday in Santa Barbara County.

The crash happened just before 1:00 p.m. along Highway 101, about eight miles north of Buellton.

Officers say the 49-year-old man was traveling about 70 miles-per-hour, when the SUV drifted into the center divider.

The vehicle then crashed into an oak tree.

Officers say the unidentified man was wearing a seat belt.

The CHP does not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the wreck.

The crash remains under investigation.

Mom Accused of Leaving Kids in Car Says She's Not Guilty

KCOY (Video)

The Santa Barbara woman accused of leaving her twin children in a hot car says she's not guilty. Pamela Dillman pleaded not guilty to two charges of child endangerment. Dillman is accused of leaving her twin boys in her SUV for 45 minutes while she shopped at the Calle Real Shopping Center last month.

Teacher in Court for Sharing Marijuana with Students

KEYT

A local teacher pleaded not guilty to smoking marijuana with her students. Melissa Dunning appeared in court this morning for her arraignment.

The former teacher is accused of smoking pot with two 14-year-old boys during a tutoring session at her Santa Barbara home. Police say there may have been three different occasions when she did this with students.

Dunning worked at Goleta Valley Junior High School as a temporary teacher.

She faces three felony counts including contributing to the delinquency of minors. She will be back in court next month for her preliminary.

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KCOY

SANTA BARBARA - A former Santa Barbara County teacher accused of smoking marijuana with a couple of her students says she didn't do it.

Melissa Dunning Monday pleaded not guilty to a felony county of furnishing pot to a minor and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Dunning worked as a temporary teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High School.

Investigators say she smoked marijuana with a 14-year-old student a few times, while tutoring him at her home.

On one occasion, deputies say another student smoked with them.

Judge lowers bail for cheerleader charged with vehicular manslaughter

KCOY

SANTA BARBARA - A Santa Barbara college cheerleader accused of killing a prominent doctor in a hit-and-run collision could be getting out of jail after a judge lowered her bail.

A judge Monday approved a defense motion and reduced Heather Hulsey's bail.

The amount dropped from $250,000 to $50,000.

Hulsey is awaiting trial on vehicular manslaughter charges in the death of Doctor Ronald Schlensky last year in Montecito.

A couple of months ago, officers arrrested Hulsey at UC Santa Barbara, where she was suspected of being drunk in public.

Hulsey is expected back in court next month.

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KEYT

Bail Reduced for Student in Manslaughter Case
Heather Hulsey to be moved to sober-living facility

Under very strict conditions a Santa Barbara Judge reduced bail for local college student accused of killing a doctor while driving drunk.

Judge Frank Ochoa reduced the bail for Heather Hulsey from $250,000 to $50,000. Bail was increased just last month when the defense convinced the Judge that Hulsey was a threat to society while facing other charges on public intoxication.

Today's bail agreement was under conditions that Hulsey resides in a sober-living arrangement and follow their guidelines.

She has to test daily for alcohol use and surrender her driver's license.

Hulsey, who used to attend Santa Barbara City College, allegedly struck and killed her neighbor, Dr. Ronald Schlensky last July while driving drunk. She will appear back in court next month.

Ex-wife released from prison after killing her UCSB graduate student husband

KCOY (Video)

Friday, July 06, 2007
Reported by: Leana Orsua

SANTA BARBARA
The ex-wife of a UCSB graduate student who was killed in front of his apartment has been released from prison.

Jerrod Davidson was killed in Goleta nearly three years ago by his father-in-law, Philip Jones.

Jones's daughter Kelee Davidson plead guilty to two counts of perjury and accessory to murder and was sentenced to four years in prison.

She served less than two years.

"Today marks another chapter in the story of Jarod Davidson's murder because as of Monday July 11 that is the anniversary date of Jarrod's senseless and despicable murder," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Darryl Perlin.

Davidson has been ordered not to have any contact with her young daughter.

She maintains that her daughter was being molested by her ex-husband.

A charge his family adamantly denies.

Kelee Davidson to get out of prison on Friday

KCOY (Video)

SANTA BARBARA - The ex-wife of a UCSB grad student murdered by his in-laws is expected to be released from prison this week.

Kelee Davidson was sentenced to four years behind bars for being an accessory to the crime and for lying to investigators.

Her father, Phillip Jones, admitted to shooting and killing his former son-in-law, Jarrod Davidson, in Santa Barbara during the summer of 2004.

Jones died of lung cancer in May.

His wife, Malinda Jones, is serving life in prison without parole for her role in the murder.

Woman charged with smoking pot with student makes court appearance

KCOY (Video)

SANTA BARBARA - A judge ordered the teacher accused of smoking marijuana with a couple of her students to stay away from them and their families.

Investigators say 31-year-old Melissa Dunning, a temporary teacher at Goleta Valley Junior High, smoked marijuana with a 14-year-old student three different times in recent months.

They say one time another student was there.

The district attorney's office has charged Dunning with furnishing a student with marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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KEYT

A teacher accused of smoking marijuana with her students appeared in court. Goleta Junior High School Teacher Melissa Dunning was arraigned on three different felony counts including smoking marijuana with two fourteen year old boys and contributing to the delinquency of minors.

Dunning worked at the Middle School as a temporary teacher for about since March of this year.

Authorities say one of the victim's parents suspected her son had be smoking pot when she picked him up after a tutoring session at Dunning's home.

Investigators say this same incident happened on three separate occasions.

District Attorney Joyce Dudley says the parents of both boys believe justice will be served.

Dunning was ordered to avoid all contact with the boys and their families. She will make another court appearance later this month to face charges.

Driver Arrested for Fatal Hit and Run

KEYT

Police have arrested a man suspected of killing a truck driver a hit and run in Goleta early Tuesday morning.

The drive of the truck pulled over onto the right shoulder on the 101 northbound and Los Carneros. He was outside of the vehicle when struck by a car. He was taken to the hospital after suffering major injuries in the collision and then pronounced dead.

The driver, Andrew Swanson, fled the scene but was later located at a residence and taken into custody for DUI, Felony Hit and Run and Gross Vehicular Manslaughter. His passenger was also taken into custody for not reporting the incident to police.

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KCOY (Video)

LOMPOC - 38-year-old Andrew Swanson, of Goleta is in county jail on charges of felony DUI, felony hit and run, and gross vehicular manslaughter.

CHP investigators say he was driving drunk when he hit a man on the shoulder of Highway 101.

The CHP says 45-year-old Miguel Cabrera, of Lompoc, pulled his tractor-trailer onto the shoulder just south of Los Carneros Road around 12:30 Tuesday morning.

They believe he was having mechanical problems.

They say Cabrera was standing near his big-rig when Swanson, in this pick-up truck, hit him.

Swanson didn't stop, but officers tracked him down at his house a few hours later, and arrested him.

Cabrera died at the hospital.

Goleta Fire Leaves Two Without A Home

KEYT

Two Goleta women are without a home this morning after an overnight fire trapped them in a Mobil home. Flames broke out just after midnight on Old Mill Road in the Rancho Santa Barbara Mobile Home Park.

County Fire crews found the mobile home engulfed in flames that partly spread to other homes on both sides.

Fire crews helped the women escape before the home completely collapsed. Heat from the fire badly damaged one of the homes next door.

No no-life threatening injuries reported and Red Cross is offering assistance. Edison is inspecting nearby power lines exposed to the intense heat. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damages total to $150,000.

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KCOY (Video)

GOLETA - Two Goleta women are looking for a new place to live after their mobile home burned to the ground.

It happened early Tuesday morning on Old Mill Road near San Marcos Pass Road and Calle Real.

Police say two women were able to escape from the burning mobile home, although one was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Fire crews say the homes on either side of the burning trailer were threatened, but were not seriously damaged.

Firefighters say the home had a working alarm.

No word on what may have caused the fire.

Goleta Fire Displaces Nineteen

KEYT (Video)

Nineteen people are displaced after a fire at a Goleta apartment complex. Santa Barbara County Fire was called to the 400 block of Linfield Place just before 1pm this afternoon.

Crews were able to quickly knock down the flames in the two alarm blaze. Fortunately there were no injuries but there were frightening moments for those who live near by.

Four people live in the apartment where the fire originated. An electrician is trying to restore power to the adjoining units that would enable the remaining fifteen people to return to their homes. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Red Cross is offering assistance to those displaced by the fire.

KEY News Reporter Michelle Cole has the story.

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SB Independent
By Chris Meagher
Thursday, June 14, 2007

Twenty-seven firefighters responded to a fire which devastated an apartment in Goleta Thursday, leaving up to 19 complex residents possibly displaced for the night. Santa Barbara County fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which occurred around 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a six-unit apartment complex at 449 Lindfield [sic] Place.

A woman and a boy were in the apartment of origin when fire alarms sounded. The two were able to make it out safely, according to Capt. Eli Iskow. Responding firefighters — six engine companies and one truck companies’ worth — were able to douse the fire down quickly, containing the fire to the one apartment.

Other apartments in the complex suffered smoke damage, and depending on whether or not the electrical system can be rerouted, 19 people may have to sleep somewhere else Thursday night. The occupants of the original apartment and the one above are displaced. The Red Cross is assisting those who need help.

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KCOY (Video)

GOLETA - 19 people are without a home Thursday night after a fire broke out an apartment building.

Firefighters say the fire started around noon at the complex in Goleta.

The fire broke out at the bottom unit.

There are six units in the whole building where eight adults and 11 children lived.

Firefighters responded quickly, so the fire damage was contained to the one unit, but the smoke from the fire affected the entire building.

Most of the neighbors will be allowed to return in the next few days, but one single mother and her children who live in the unit where the fire broke out won't be able to come home for awhile.

She was home with one kid at the time of the fire while her other two children were at school.

Some neighbors from the building and around the block were home and called 9-1-1 when they smelled the smoke.

As of now the cause of the fire is under investigation, but the woman tells us that it was most likely electrical.

Sex offender arrested after getting caught near Goleta school

KCOY (Video)

GOLETA - A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after being caught near a local campus.

Officers booked Manuel Jimenez into the Santa Barbara County Jail Wednesday.

They say he was spotted near St. Raphael's School in Goleta almost a month ago.

Officers spoke to him at that time and let him go.

But since then, detectives learned Jimenez is a sex offender.

And they found out he had previously been seen on the campus.

Goleta Man Faces Felony DUI Charges in Head-On Crash

KCOY

ISLA VISTA - A young Goleta man faces felony DUI charges after officers say he caused a head-on collision that sent a woman to the hospital.

The crash happened late Tuesday night on Los Carneros Road near El Colegio Road, in Isla Vista.

The CHP says 20-year-old Dane Johnston was driving a van that crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a car.

A 21-year-old woman riding in the back of the car suffered injuries including a fractured face and skull.

Paramedics took her and Johnston to the hospital for treatment.

Officers say Johnston was under the influence of drugs.

Rescue Team Saves Man Off Goleta Beach

KCOY (Video)
4/9/07

GOLETA - A team of firefighters and police rescued a man who got into trouble Monday off Goleta Beach.

Investigators say the man was in a boat when he started having problems.

Then, they say the man got into the water himself, but got stranded.

Crews found him about a quarter-mile offshore.

They say he was disoriented and was suffering from hypothermia.

Paramedics took him to the hospital for treatment.

Santa Barbara Newsroom

SWIMMER RESCUED AT GOLETA BEACH

GOLETA, April 9, 2007 — A disoriented swimmer suffering from hypothermia
was rescued Monday a quarter-mile off the west end of Goleta Beach County Park,
officials said.

The unidentified man was hauled ashore at 5:13 p.m. by a team of 10 Santa
Barbara County firefighters who used a rescue watercraft, according to
authorities who took the man via ambulance to Cottage Hospital.

The UCSB Police Department assisted in the rescue.

- Tom Schultz

Deputies Looking For Man Performing Lewd Acts Near Elementary School

KCOY is reporting that Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies are looking for a man they say performed lewd acts near a school in Goleta.

Deputies say a woman saw a man sitting in his car across from a playground near Hollister Elementary School.

The woman said she saw the man expose himself while watching children playing.

The man quickly drove off in his 2000 model... electric blue... toyota corolla.

KCOY Video

Update 03/21 11:15pm:

KEYT now has the story posted. (Video)

A man suspected of committing "lewd acts" near a school playground is on the loose tonight. Sheriff' s Deputies say the suspect was seen masturbating in his car across from a school playground in the Goleta area last week. The suspect sped off when he realized he' d been seen. Deputies say the suspect is a Hispanic male, between 25 and 30 years old, clean shaven with short hair. He was driving a late model "electric blue" Toyota Corolla. The car had some modifications, like chrome additions to the license plate and bumper. Call Sheriff' s Detectives at 681-4150 if you have any information.

Old Town Goleta: Two Alarm Fire Destroys Two Businesses

KEYT is reporting on a two alarm fire that took place around 4:21am Wednesday morning.

Update 3/22: KEYT video is posted.

At 4:21 Wednesday morning, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded with 7 Engine Companies, 1 Ladder Truck, 1 Air and Lighting Vehicle and 3 Chief Officers to a large commercial structure fire, in Old Town Goleta. It burned approximately 9000 square feet. County fire was assisted by 1 Ladder Truck and 1 Battalion Chief from Santa Barbara City. 30 Firefighters worked for about 90 minutes to knock down the blaze which was well involved and had burned through the roof of the building when the first units arrived. An aggressive initial attack by those first arriving firefighters spared the other 4 adjoining businesses from any major damage. The involved business were "805 Clothing", 335 Rutherford, which was totally destroyed, and Moore Machine Shop at 5759 Dawson which suffered major damage. The fire was visible throughout the Goleta Valley. No injuries occurred and the cause is under investigation by the County Fire Department. Dollar loss is being calculated and will be high due to the large amount of damage.

Update 3/22:

Click here for the KCOY article. (Video)

Close To Home: UCSB Soccer Player Facing Rape Charges

Right next door to Goleta lives UCSB and Isla Vista, and a completely different culture.

Various media outlets are reporting that a UCSB soccer player has been arrested, posted $100,000 bail, and is now awaiting his first court appearance.

Click here for the KEYT report.
Click here for the KCOY report.
Click here for the Santa Barbara Daily Sound Blog report.

Update 02-22-2007
Click here for the SB Sheriff's Department Press Release