Santa Barbara County – Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Detectives have a tenacious streak, as evidenced by the January 14th arrest of three individuals associated with the primary suspect in a stabbing assault that was reported to law enforcement on April 26, 2014. It was on that date that a young male was found on a Santa Maria street bleeding from multiple stab wounds.
Suzanne Tobin
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, “the stabbing was related to criminal street gang activity” with Coleton Fout, 22, a Santa Maria resident as the primary suspect. The investigation into Fout’s whereabouts over the ensuing nine months led detectives to an Ironwood Drive residence, search and arrest warrants in hand.
Austyn Fout
As deputies approached the targeted residence, Fout was spotted fleeing from the premises on foot with all due alacrity. It only took SBSD Air Support Unit, working in coordination with a K-9 Unit, a short time to locate Fouts hiding in a nearby garage. He was arrested on the scene and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of attempted murder and possession of methamphetamine, as well as two probation warrants for his arrest.
Denise Valdovinos
While the arrest of Fout was transpiring, the targeted residence was searched, leading to the discovery of Suzanne Tobin, a 22-year old Santa Maria resident who was “under the influence of methamphetamine” at the time. Along with her, Austyn Fout, 18, and Denise Valdovinos, 27—who was wanted on four no-bail warrants—were located hiding outside the home in a nearby shed. She was arrested pursuant to those warrants; the younger Fout was arrested and booked on charges of harboring a fugitive, confirming the wisdom of W. Clement Stone’s admonitions to “be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them”.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
Read more:
Independent: Stabbing suspect arrested
EdHat: Stabbing suspect and roommates arrested
Santa Maria Times: SM man arrested for attempted murder
