Refugio State Beach

Injuries reported in vehicle rollover

Two minor injuries were reported Monday after a vehicle rolled onto its side on the railroad tracks a half mile north of Refugio State Beach, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Crewa responded to the call off of Highway 101 at 12:45 p.m.

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Santa Barbara County

Arrest made in attempted murder

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A 33-year-old Goleta man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an assault last week left another man in coma.

Jose Luis Mora Ramirez, 26, of Goleta was found lying in the road Thursday morning in the area of Calle Real and Farren Road outside Goleta, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were dispatched at 7:23 a.m., and found Ramirez with severe head trauma and lots of bleeding, said sheriff's Sgt. Alex Tipolt.

Ramirez was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and was in a coma Monday, Tipolt said. Hospital officials said he has been in the Intensive Care Unit since Thursday and was listed in serious condition.

During the investigation, detectives identified Alberto Moreno, 33, as the only suspect in the case, Tipolt said. Officials said the attack occurred sometime Wednesday night, and Moreno allegedly left the victim to die.

Moreno was booked into County Jail, where he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, Tipolt said. Moreno was arrested the same day the victim was found.

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Santa Maria

Checkpoint stops net two DUI arrests

Nearly 2,000 drivers were screened Friday during a Santa Maria Police Department DUI checkpoint within the city.

Officers from the traffic bureau conducted the checkpoint from 3 p.m. to midnight and screened 1,720 vehicles, according to a department statement.

Five sobriety tests were done, two DUI arrests were made and 27 vehicles were impounded because their drivers were unlicensed, officials said.

The operation was funded through grant money from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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Santa Barbara

Gang violence at heart of new report

The Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury issued a report Monday calling on the city of Santa Barbara and the local school districts to better unite to address youth violence in the wake of two 2007 homicides involving youth gang members.

In a written statement, grand jury officials said they reviewed the response by local government, law enforecement, schools and the community in relation to youth violence.

The group is also calling for the city to establish a council or commission dedicated to being the lead agency in dealing with at-risk youth.

To see the full report, go to the civil grand jury Web site at www.sbcgj.org.

The civil grand jury investigates various aspects of local government, and is meant to act as a watchdog but holds no enforcement power. The group is made up of 19 county residents, and its investigations are often responses to community complaints.

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San Luis Obispo County

Grant monies to fight underage drinking

As part of the county's effort to combat underage drinking, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The money will allow the department to conduct decoy and “shoulder tap” operations that are aimed at adults who either sell alcohol or purchase alcohol for minors, officials said.

Deputies are planning a special enforcement detail for the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, where two deputies will be working six hour shifts for the 12 days of the fair.

- From staff reports