Santa Maria
City Council OKs police grants
The City Council approved a pair of grant appropriations under two different federal programs to help the police department fight gangs and purchase Taser stun guns.
The first allocation, for $69,074, came from the Department of Justice Anti-Gang Initiative Program and is expected to be used by September for expenses such as overtime incurred from increased street presence, Gang Suppression Team training, and equipment, according to the written staff report. No matching funds are required.
The second allocation, for $40,323, came from the 2007 Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Officials plan to use the money to purchase Tasers for patrol officers.
Santa Barbara County
‘Social host' ordinance held over
Discussion of a proposed county ordinance prohibiting parents and other adults, such as older siblings, from providing a place for underage drinking was continued Tuesday after more than 100 people spoke on a earlier item - a proposed spay-neuter ordinance for pets - at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting.
The “social host ordinance” is expected to be discussed at the supervisors' May 13 meeting at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara County
Fire department gets new wildland truck
A $300,000 wildland fire-fighting truck was donated to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Tuesday by the Santa Barbara Volunteer Bucket Brigade and Direct Relief International.
After the Zaca Fire last summer in the Santa Ynez Valley and Los Padres National Forest, the founders of the Volunteer Bucket Brigade began work to raise enough money to purchase and outfit a “type 3” brush truck, an off-road vehicle that could be used to fight wildland fires.
A county fire official said the gift was greatly appreciated by the department, which found out last fire season that it had more men than equipment.
Guadalupe
No arrests reported at Cinco checkpoints
Law enforcement officers from 12 county agencies made no DUI arrests at a sobriety checkpoint in Guadalupe over Cinco de Mayo weekend, but they did make three DUI arrests elsewhere in town and impounded 15 cars on 30-day holds.
At the Saturday night checkpoint, 496 drivers were screened, and during the Sunday saturation patrol 10 cars were stopped.
The increased effort known as “Avoid the 12” will be used again somewhere in the county over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, to stop drunken and impaired drivers, officials said.
“Avoid the 12” operations are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Pismo Beach
Health advisory posted at pier
A health advisory was posted 40 feet south of Pismo Pier Tuesday warning people to avoid contact with the ocean because of elevated bacteria levels in the water.
The advisory could be lifted as early as today if water samples taken Tuesday show that the bacteria levels have returned to normal, according to Environmental Health officials.
The longest posting of a health advisory in Pismo Beach was last year in May and lasted for eight consecutive days.
Santa Maria
Murder charges filed in shooting
A murder charge was filed Tuesday against Tyrel Jordan, 20, of Santa Maria in connection with the fatal shooting of Tau Sudlow, 20, Friday night in Santa Maria.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office filed the murder charge and use of a gun allegations, said Gene Martinez, chief assistant district attorney.
Jordan was arrested shortly after the shooting, which police say happened about 11:20 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of E. Main Street.
Jordan was booked into
Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was being held without bail.
Grover Beach
Woman arrested in rental scam
A Grover Beach woman was arrested on felony charges of grand theft for allegedly posing as a property manager and taking money from a potential renter, police said Tuesday.
Police believe Cynthia L. Brodersen, 44, recently stole $1,800 from at least one person during a rental agreement scam, where she allegedly posed as the property manager for a home in the 1200 block of Messina Court.
Brodersen allegedly convinced the victim she was the property manager, and took an $1,800 payment from them. She was located by police Monday near similar rental homes in Arroyo Grande, and taken into custody, police said.
Officers recovered $800 of the stolen money, and Brodersen was booked into County Jail, where she was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Anyone with information about Brodersen or the case is encouraged to call the Grover Beach Police Department at 473-4511 or CrimeStoppers at 549-STOP.
Arroyo Grande
Man accused of DUI after collision
A 19-year-old San Luis Obispo man was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence after his 2006 Dodge Charger drifted into oncoming traffic Monday night, causing a two-car collision.
The collision occurred at 9:25 p.m. on Corbett Canyon Road east of Highway 277 when the Charger, which was traveling westbound, crossed the double yellow line and hit a 1988 Acura, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The Acura was driven by a 21-year-old Arroyo Grande resident, who had two passengers with them in the vehicle. All three occupants were taken to French Hospital Medical Center with minor injuries.
The CHP didn't release the names of the two drivers.
Santa Maria
Man arrested after brief vehicle chase
Santa Maria police trying to pull over a truck that was reported stolen said they were led on a short chase, before capturing the driver and arresting him on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle.
Around 11 p.m. Monday, an officer initiated a traffic stop of a truck driving without its lights on. The truck was pulled over near South Western and West Morrison avenues.
A computer check showed that the 2005 Mazda was reported stolen out of Kern County.
When officers attempted to approach, the driver, Rey Montano, 26, of Imperial Valley, Calif., drove eastbound on Morrison Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to Lt. Dan Ast.
Montano ran a red light and several stop signs during the 1.3-mile police pursuit, which ended when he turned south onto the 900 Block of Haslam Drive, which is a dead end street. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle, police said.
Montano was booked on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, felony evading, resisting arrest and possessing a dangerous weapon.
He was in custody, and awaiting transfer to Santa Barbara County Jail on Tuesday, with bail set at $75,000.
- From staff reports
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