Efren Martinez and Cataline Padilla
Carpinteria – Clear evidence of contemporary social and gender mores indicating that chivalry is indeed a thing of the past, it was just after 3:00 a.m. on February 23rd when Efren Martinez, a 26-year-old from Los Angeles out on bail, in his desperate attempt to avoid further contact with law enforcement, abandoned his girlfriend in the stolen car he had been driving.
It all started when the 1997 Honda Accord Martinez was driving—and which he and his passenger 26-year-old Cataline Padilla had stolen just hours prior—was spotted by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s patrol officers parked in front of a 24-hour gas station convenience store in Carpinteria.
Deputies observed the Honda as it pulled onto U.S. 101 southbound and promptly attempted to “conduct a high risk stop,” according to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover.
But Martinez failed to yield, and led the patrol unit on a brief high speed chase through residential streets before summarily alighting from the Honda and taking off on foot through a densely-populated neighborhood, leaving Padilla sitting in the car to face the cops on her own.
Padilla was “immediately taken into custody” while Martinez quickly became the object of both an Air Support and K-9 search.
During his flight, Martinez made numerous attempts “to break into occupied residences” in the neighborhood, and was ultimately tracked down to “an uninvolved citizen’s parked vehicle.”
Martinez was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of auto theft, vehicle tampering, evading authorities with reckless disregard, conspiracy, resisting arrest, committing a felony while on bail, driving without a license, and attempted residential burglary, with his bail set at $25,000.
For her part, the hapless Padilla, a resident of Long Beach, was booked on charges of possession of stolen property, auto theft, and conspiracy, with her bail set at $20,000.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
