Motorcyclist Runs Amok Through Santa Barbara Skate Park
SANTA BARBARA — Skater’s Point Skate Park, located in the Chase Palm Park area, has for many years served as a mecca for area skateboarders and legions of passers-by who gather in wonder at the high-flying, rail-sliding agility of daring youth.
John Harris Rios (Courtesy: SB County Jail Booking)
But the multi-faceted concrete playground — resembling a huge, empty swimming pool that could have easily been designed by Salvador Dali — has seen more action than simply that of innocent sport. Last month, law enforcement shut the park down to prevent area drug dealers from plying their wares, and Santa Barbara Parks officials in concert with Santa Barbara County Sheriffs installed a series of thick chains over the park surface to prevent skating and inhibit drug activity.
However, following public outcry and questions of enforceability, the embargo was suspended just ten days later and the park was re-opened for recreational use.
Said recreation being skateboarding, rollerblading, and BMX stunt biking — a stipulation that went unheeded on July 21st by John Harris Rios (18) when he rode his motorcycle into the skate park, veered off onto city sidewalks, jumped curbs as he careened through the adjacent City parking lot, and generally terrorized pedestrians. When the joyride was over, Rios quickly loaded his motorcycle into the back of a pickup truck, ready to make himself scarce.
It was then that he noticed a witness had captured the entire episode on a mobile phone camera and taken note of his license plate number.
Rios steadfastly crossed the line from multiple misdemeanor traffic violations into the realm of felonious behavior, verbally threatening the witness with violent consequence should his shenanigans be reported to law enforcement. He then left the scene.
The witness called the cops.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, it was ultimately SBPD’s Traffic Unit that responded. Pursuant to their investigation, “Officer Jaycee Hunter obtained a search warrant for Rios’s residence with a $50,000 felony arrest warrant.” With those in hand, Rios was arrested at his Carpinteria home on July 27th and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of “attempting to prevent or dissuade a witness from reporting a crime,” as well as numerous Vehicle Code violations.
Read more:
KCOY: Skate Park User Arrested for Threatening Witness
Santa Barbara Independent: Motorcyclist Arrested for Riding in Skate Park
SBPD press release: Skate Park User Arrested for Threatening Witness
SBPD press release via Nixle: Skate Park User Arrested for Threatening Witness – Suspect Rode Motorcycle Inside Skater’s Point
