UPDATE - In 2025, the attempted kidnapping and obstructing a peace officer charges against Maldonado were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge.
___
ORIGINAL STORY - Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Santa Barbara man on suspicion of an attempted kidnapping that occurred earlier in the week.
Sheriff's officials say on Tuesday, Community Resource Deputy Bryan Dickey was notified by Carpinteria Middle School staff of an attempted kidnapping that had occurred at approximately 4 p.m. the day before.
School staff reportedly told the deputy it happened on the 5500 block of Carpinteria Avenue near the entrance to the bicycle path and provided him with a thorough account of the incident and a suspect description.
According to the sheriff's office, deputies identified the suspect as 51-year-old Elias Maldonado of Santa Barbara and tracked him to a motel on the 5500 block of Carpinteria Avenue. Deputies also reportedly learned that Maldonado had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
On Thursday, at approximately 9:50 a.m., authorities contacted Maldonado at the motel and took him into custody after sheriff's officials say he attempted to flee.
Maldonado was reportedly booked at the Main Jail on charges of attempted kidnapping of a child under the age of 14 and obstructing a peace officer, as well as his outstanding warrant for domestic violence and false imprisonment.
He is being held on $150,000 bail.
