Photo: Jaime Orozco
Santa Barbara – In a city dependent upon tourist dollars for its economic well-being, the May 14th arrest of 26-year-old Santa Barbara resident Jaime Orozco is unlikely to make the front page of the Chamber of Commerce’s “Weekly Visitor” Newsletter.
Just blocks away from major tourist hotels and the volleyball courts of East Beach, Orozco’s residence was the target of a residential search warrant in the hands of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Special Investigations Bureau.
Orozco’s stash
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, as deputies were on their way to Orozco’s residence, he was observed driving down the street he lives on.
At that point, “a traffic stop was conducted” and contact with Orozco was initiated. The ensuing search of his vehicle revealed “more than $4,000 in cash” along with “items of indicia consistent with narcotics sales.”
Following their vehicle search, detectives then proceeded to the address indicated in their search warrant in the 300 block of South Voluntario Street, a mere five blocks from some of Santa Barbara’s most popular waterfront hotels.
The search of Orozco’s home led to the discovering of “four semi-automatic handguns with ammunition,” one of which—because it did not bear any serial number as called for by California law—is considered a “ghost gun” as it is provenance of ownership is difficult for anyone to determine.
Another residence “associated with Orozco” several miles across town was then searched, leading to the discovery of “2.2 ounces of cocaine with an estimated street value of $2,400.”
Orozco was arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of possession for sales of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm not bearing a serial number. He remains in custody with his bail set at $30,000.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department
