Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials arrested two men Friday morning after a car chase in Isla Vista.
The chase reportedly began after a U.C. Santa Barbara police officer tried to stop a car for an equipment violation and the driver refused to pull over.
During the pursuit, sheriff’s officials say a replica airsoft handgun, black ski mask, hammer, and blue bandana were thrown out of the vehicle.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver eventually stopped the car at the intersection of Fortuna Rd. and Fortuna Ln. and three men and one woman exited the vehicle and ran off.
Deputies reportedly apprehended one of the passengers after a short chase and began to canvas the area for the other three people.
Sheriff’s officials say the driver, identified as Gilberto Solis, 23, of Goleta, was found hiding underneath a parked truck.
Solis was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony evasion, conspiracy to commit a crime, destruction of evidence, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest, prowling, driving with a suspended driver’s license, failing to register as a gang offender, and possession of an open container of marijuana in a vehicle.
Christian Catalan, 22, of Goleta was booked into the jail on charges of resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit a crime, destruction of evidence, possession of burglary tools, failing to register as a gang offender, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The other two passengers were not found. Sheriff’s officials say investigators are following up on leads and working to identify the two people.
