Santa Ynez Valley

Teen suspect linked to other area thefts

A 17-year-old Santa Ynez boy suspected in several cases of property theft and arrested on suspicion of grand theft and burglary last week has been linked through additional investigation to 12 cases of property theft in Buellton and Santa Ynez in which property was removed from unlocked vehicles, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department reported Wednesday.

The boy also is believed to be involved in the theft of three automobiles, allegations which were being reviewed by the District Attorney's Office, officials said.

A stolen handgun and a stolen vehicle from the Grover Beach area were among the property recovered.

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Oceano

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Man arrested for brandishing weapon

A 53-year-old Oceano man was arrested Wednesday morning at his home in the 1200 block of Belridge after allegedly pointing pellet handgun at a construction crew, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Robert Albert Morton was arrested outside his home around 10:30 a.m. after two sheriff's deputies responded to call of a man pointing a gun from his backyard at a construction crew working in the 1600 block of Highway 1.

Deputies secured the area around Morton's house and ordered him to come out. He was arrested when he exited his residence, according to Rob Bryn, Sheriff's Department spokesman.

Morton's home was searched, and deputies recovered a pellet handgun that an unidentified construction worker identified as the weapon Morton allegedly pointed at the crew from his backyard, Bryn said.

Prior to the gun brandishing call, deputies responded to a call at 10 a.m. from a woman walking near Rock n' Roll Diner on Highway 1 who saw a man opening and closing what she thought was a switchblade knife.

The man wasn't located, but deputies believe Morton is the person the woman saw near the Oceano restaurant, although the knife wasn't located at his home, Bryn said.

Morton was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a weapon other than a firearm in a threatening manner and booked into County Jail, where he released on a promise to appear in court.

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Pismo Beach

Parking fee $10 for car show attendees

The city of Pismo Beach will charge Classic Car Show attendees $10 a car to park this weekend at the so-called Wolosz metered parking lot, on the corner of Main and Dolliver streets.

The 74-space lot will be staffed with city-employed parking enforcement officers during the show on both Friday and Sunday. The lot will be used on Saturday to show cars and parking won't be available there then, according to Pismo Beach Community Development Director Randy Bloom.

“Most people won't spend eight hours at the Car Show,” Bloom said during Tuesday's City Council update of Pismo's recently launched paid-parking program. “We'll have turnover.”

Bloom believes the city will make more money charging a $10 per car fee at the lot, rather than using the paid-parking kiosks that charge 75 cents per hour to park at the lot.

“It's going to be a lot more than the $6 we'd get from the meters,” he said.

The city makes $6 for every car that parks at the Wolosz lot for an eight-hour period, according to Bloom.

Pismo is also offering free parking at the Pacific Gas & Electric Co.-owned parking lot on Bello Street during all three days of the Car Show. Parking at that lot will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since launching the paid-parking program in the city's downtown core in June, Pismo has generated $95,000 in parking fees.

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Santa Barbara County

Motorcyclist killed on Hwy. 101 identified

The man killed early Tuesday afternoon in an unusual roadside collision has been identified as Bruce Eugene Bruton, 56, of Atascadero.

Bruton died after he was struck by a 3-axle truck on the right shoulder of northbound Highway 101 near Clark Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The large truck, owned by Union Pacific Railroad, was being driven by Mitchell Allen Yost, 53, of Rosamond, officials said.

Rosamond may be facing misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence charges, said Officer Gus Lopez of the CHP. But a final decision on charges has not been determined.

Bruton was riding a 2002 Suzuki motorcycle northbound on the highway when he pulled over to the shoulder in order to remove some layers of clothing, Lopez said.

While on the side of the highway, the motorcycle fell over and Bruton attempted to pick it back up, Lopez said. During this time another driver of a pickup pulled over to help.

The good Samaritan was able to help get the bike up and was getting back into his vehicle to leave when he witnessed a 1998 International, 3-axle truck drift into the shoulder and struck the motorcyclist, Lopez said.

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Santa Maria

City opens bidding on road contracts

The Santa Maria City Council opened the bidding period for projects to reconstruct segments of West Creston Street, Marlberry Street and Palmetto Drive.

In addition to reconstructing the streets, the project includes repair and replacement of damaged curbs and gutters, construction of Americans with Disabilities Act compliant ramps and traffic striping, according to the written staff report.

Bids are expected to be opened at 2 p.m. July 15.

Funds for the project are coming from the city's share of Proposition 1B money.

- From staff reports