Infamous Local Slumlord Busted for Burglary
Santa Barbara – Dario Louis Pini, 63, has been in the Santa Barbara media lens for several years, having had a series of contentious encounters with zoning and health department officials over the conditions and management of his many local area residential properties.
Dario Louis Pini
But things seem to have stepped over the mere civil litigation line on March 17th when Pini was seen walking off a property under renovation he does not own or manage with building materials. According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, “witnesses confronted Pini as he was walking off the property with items taken from the building.” The witness threatened to summon law enforcement, whereupon Pini summarily dropped plumbing materials and coaxial cable spools, and promptly left the area.
As Harwood reported to the media, the property in question–surrounded by chain-link fencing and posted as private property—had previously been visited by Pini more than once before. When Pini was spotted on the property on March 17th, neighbors reported the intrusion to the property owner who denied having given Pini permission to enter the property. SBPD Property Crimes Detective John Ingram then began an investigation which established that Pini had previously taken water heater pipe fittings, copper tubing, and various electrical supplies without authority to do so. Pursuant to those findings an arrest warrant was issued for Pini, who was observed on a public street the following day and contacted by detectives.
Pini was questioned on the scene but would make no comments about the allegations. Pini was arrested without further incident and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony burglary with bail set at $20,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
Read more:
EdHat: Dario Pini Arrested for Burglary
Santa Barbara Independent: Pini-Proofing Chino Street
