Santa Barbara

Arrests made after extensive investigation

Eight people were arrested by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's officials Friday, ending an eight-month investigation.

Three people were suspected of methamphetamine use and sales, which led to a pair of search warrants, one for a a residence in the 1300 block of Sycamore Canyon Road in Santa Barbara and another in the 200 block of Bonnie Lane in Montecito, according to sheriff's officials.

Samuel Huerta, 30, Peter Gewant, 50, and Michael Rodriguez, 27, were arrested when the warrants were served, according to a statement released by the sheriff. Detectives seized two ounces of meth, a scale, packaging materials, firearms, and other paraphernalia.

Huerta was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on drugs and weapons charges in lieu of $30,000 bail. Gewant was booked drugs and weapons charges in lieu of $10,000. Rodriguez was also on drugs charges and was held without bail on a parole warrant.

Also arrested at the two locations were: Don Svestka, 29, on suspicion of violation of probation and being under the influence; Ulises Mendoza, 21, on suspicion of being under the influence and an outstanding warrant; Guadalupe Ramirez, 20, on suspicion of being under the influence, providing a false identity to an officer and violation of parole; Charles Grochowski, 43, on suspicion of drug possession; and Dennis Weldon, 47, on suspicion of being under the influence and parole violation.

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Santa Maria

Accusation leads to molestation arrest

Police have arrested a Santa Maria man after a young child reported being molested along with two other young children in a Santa Maria residence.

Rosario Vea Madariaga, 44, was arrested Thursday night and was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of lewd acts with a minor with bail set at $100,000, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.

He was reported to be in custody at the County Jail Friday.

The alleged victims in the case are under 10 years old. Police said they would not release other information so as to protect the victims' identities.

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Nipomo

HS club gives back to elemantary school

The Nipomo High School Key Club donated several hundred books to add to the Dorothea Lange Elementary School Library Friday.

This is the second year in a row the club has held a book drive to benefit the 2-year-old school, whose library is not yet completely developed.

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Guadalupe

History talk planned for today

A City Walk and Talk about downtown Guadalupe will take place today.

Shirley Boydstun, Guadalupe Historical Society member and long-time Guadalupe resident, will lead the walking tour of the historic small town.

Participants will meet at the 10 a.m. at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1055 Guadalupe St. (Incorrect information released earlier said the walk would take place at 3 p.m., Boydstun said.)

The route is classified as easy, but walkers should remember to bring a jacket.

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Santa Barbara County

Traffic on southbound Highway 101 near Refugio State Beach was delayed Friday morning when a U.S. Postal Service tractor-trailer jackknifed just before 5 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The slow lane was closed for some time while crews worked to upright the trailer, which was done without unloading the cargo, officials said. It was not known where the truck was heading.

The trailer was expected to be towed to Lompoc, where postal service officials were planning to make arrangements for another truck to carry the load, said Officer CHP Don Clotworthy.

The driver of the truck was not injured and no other vehicles were involved.

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Santa Barbara County

SCRAM system Íbeing put to use

Santa Barbara County Superior Court has started referring some of its cases involving alcohol for use of an ankle bracelet that samples a person's perspiration every hour to detect alcohol consumption.

The Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) is coming to Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties, and has already been in use in some California counties and in 44 states, reported a press release on the alcohol monitoring system.

The continuous monitoring means that offenders can't drink around testing schedules and not be caught, reported the press release.

Darrel Parker, assistant trial courts executive officer, said the monitor is being used in cases in both northern and southern Santa Barbara County.

He said the court is exploring the possibility of using the anklets for pretrial release.

The monitor started being used in the county about two months ago, he said.

Those people who want to use the anklet are responsible for the cost, Parker said, but cost is based on a sliding scale.

- From staff reports