David Palmer
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Proving once again that legislated proscriptions against the possession and use of controlled substances are on the books in the interests of preventing aberrant behavior which is often a danger to others, in the middle of the night on January 19th, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department deputies found themselves face-to-face with an armed suspect threatening harm to his family.
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, it was 3:15 a.m. on the 19th when deputies rolled up to the Goleta residence of 35-year-old David Palmer and his family.
Palmer weapons
When deputies rolled up to the home, Palmer’s parents stepped outside to report their son was in possession of a rifle while “his grandfather and a caretaker remained inside.”
At that point, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team and Hostage Negotiation Team were summoned to the home, while a Reverse 911 call was made throughout local area residences to alert them of the danger and suggest they “shelter in place.”
Verbal contact was made with Palmer while deputies “secured a perimeter” for the safety of all in the local area. More than two hours later, at 5:40 a.m., Palmer stepped outside to face the music and was promptly taken into custody.
He was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of making criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A subsequent warrant search of Palmer’s residence later in the day ended with deputies seizing numerous firearms, drug paraphernalia, “suspected methamphetamine and two suspicious devices” which were later determined to be “not hazardous.”
Palmer remains in custody, held on $500,000 bail.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
