UPDATE (5:30 p.m.) - A felon was arrested Monday morning following a search for a car theft suspect the prompted shelter-in-place alerts for residents in the Vandenberg Village area near Lompoc.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says at around 5:15 a.m., a deputy patrolling an area where residents reported having their mailboxes tampered with recently noticed a vehicle along the 200 block of St. Andrews Way that was captured on surveillance by nearby residents a few days earlier.
The deputy tried to stop the driver, but the driver crashed into a mailbox and ran off, officials say.
After running the license plate, the sheriff’s office says the deputy found out the truck had been reported stolen from Nipomo earlier this month.
“As deputies set up a perimeter and began tracking the suspect, they received a call from a jogger in the area who found a handgun and parts of a cell phone in a nearby intersection. Deputies secured the handgun and had Sheriff’s dispatch send an alert requesting that residents shelter in place,” officials said in a press release.
K9 units were brought in and the Lompoc Police Department and California Highway Patrol also assisted with the search for the suspect.
After more than two hours, officials say deputies took the suspect, identified as Andy Aguilera, 32, of Lompoc, into custody as he tried to get into the backyard of a home on the 100 block of Galaxy Way.
“A few minutes later, an additional resident called to report what appeared to be a firearm in the intersection of St. Andrews Way and Clubhouse Road. Deputies recovered pieces of a second firearm from that area and believe it is associated with this incident,” according to the press release.
Aguilera is facing felony charges related to a stolen vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm and not being the owner, commission of a felony while released on bail and felon in possession of a firearm, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials say a bail enhancement requested by deputies for Aguilera due to him already being released on bail for another firearms-related charge was approved and bail was increased from $35,000 to $100,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
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UPDATE (7:44 a.m.) : The sheriff's office says a suspect is in custody following a shelter-in-place order. No information regarding their identity has been released.
Suspect is in custody. Cancel shelter in place. Thank you for your cooperation.
— SB Sheriff's Office (@sbsheriff) August 31, 2020
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UPDATE (7:38 a.m.) - The sheriff's office says the shelter-in-place alert has been canceled for residents in Vandenberg Village near Lompoc. No other information was given on whether a suspect was in custody.
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(UPDATE: 6:30 a.m.)- Officials with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office say they are searching for a suspect who ran from a stolen vehicle.
The search began just after 5:30 a.m. on the 200 block of St. Andrews Way.
Deputies say the suspect was last seen wearing a dark hoodie and jeans.
If any residents in the area witness any suspicious activity they are asked to call 911.
Shelter in place issued for Vandenberg Village. Deputies are searching for a suspect who ran from a stolen vehicle in the 200-block of St. Andrews. Suspect last seen wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. Call 911 to report suspicious subjects in the area.
— SB Sheriff's Office (@sbsheriff) August 31, 2020
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office along with the Lompoc Police Department issued a shelter in place order for residents in the Vandenberg Village area.
The alert came out on Monday at around 5:45 a.m.
According to the alert, there is police activity in the area of Vandenberg Village and if any residents witness anything suspicious to call 911.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
