Machete Wielding Gang-Banger Busted
A 911 Emergency call to Santa Barbara Police in the early evening of June 23rd coming from a busy east-side commercial area reported a parking lot brawl that escalated into a full-fledged fistfight. According to SBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, “after exchanging several blows, the two combatants separated.”
Danny Loyola
But that was apparently only Round 1 of the altercation, for only a few minutes later, Danny Loyola, 19, returned to the combat arena with more than fisticuffs in mind, as evidenced by the long-bladed machete with which he suddenly attacked his adversary. The other individual wisely fled the scene as quickly as possible, managing to escape to the relative safety of a nearby public restroom where he barricaded himself behind a locked door.
Harwood reported that “this activity was observed by several witnesses”, one of whom warned Loyola that his behavior might well qualify him for criminal charges and a prison sentence. At that point, Loyola defied all reason and announced that he was affiliated with a local gang and had no concerns about prison incarceration.
Frustrated and unable to pry his prospective victim out of the confines of the locked restroom, Loyola then secreted the machete under his clothing and made his departure from the area.
Officers responding to the scene took witness statements and began a search of the neighborhood for Loyola. By that time, Loyola had ditched both the machete and his shirt, but witness descriptions were complete enough to help officers find and identify him just blocks away.
Upon contact, Loyola attempted to evade the officers, but he was quickly caught and subdued. He was arrested on the scene and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, and committing a crime in association with a criminal street gang, with his bail set at $100,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
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