Santa Barbara County – Lompoc’s picturesque Surf Depot Amtrak train station was the scene of a violent confrontation, which began in the early evening hours of Thursday, September 10th when Christopher Taylor, a 30-year-old resident of Seattle, Washington, became the subject of a citizen call for police assistance.
When, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, a SBSD deputy arrived at the train station, contact with Taylor was made and it was quickly “determined that he was a danger to himself and others due to his level of intoxication.” But when the deputy attempted to detain Taylor, he resisted with violent physical force and “became extremely combative.”
As the deputy endeavored to take Taylor into custody, he was punched in the face and kicked by him, whereupon two male residents of Lompoc—35 and 65 years of age—engaged with Taylor and helped to restrain him, meeting force with force. For his trouble, the 65-year-old was also punched and kicked, but Taylor was ultimately brought under control and handcuffed. Even while handcuffed, however, Taylor continued to lash out at the deputy and the two brave citizens. With the help of the 65-year-old, the deputy was finally successful in placing Taylor in the rear of his patrol unit for the ride to the next stop on his journey: Santa Barbara County Jail.
The Surf Beach Amtrack station in Lompoc
Once at the jail, Taylor was booked on charges of felony obstructing and resisting a peace officer through violence, battery and battery upon a police officer resulting in injury. Following the booking process, the deputy was admitted to a local area hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Hoover noted that “the Sheriff’s Office commends the swift and courageous actions of the involved citizens who stepped in and helped the deputy.”
Photos: courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Google Maps
