Photo: Fernando Perez Huerta
Santa Barbara – The tranquil groves of academe were anything but tranquil in the early evening hours of October 30th as Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department deputies began conducting surveillance of a residence adjacent to the campus of Santa Barbara City College.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department Media Relations Director Anthony Wagner, “the incident began at about 5:15 p.m.” as SBSD deputies acted on a tip that 34-year-old Santa Barbara resident Fernando Perez Huerta—wanted on a felony warrant—“was in the area.” When Huerta caught wind of the fact that uniformed deputies were approaching his apartment, he “fled on foot” and disappeared onto the SBCC campus.
With Huerta’s history as “a felon with a prior history of having a firearm,” a series of text messages were transmitted to campus authorities noting that “An armed intruder entered the Main Campus. Take appropriate action, RUN-HIDE-OR-FIGHT! Please continue to shelter in place until an all clear is given.”
A reverse 911 alert was transmitted to area residents, putting the community on edge as deputies swarmed the campus with the help of a K-9 Unit and a county helicopter.
Huerta was contacted shortly thereafter and taken into custody without further incident. He was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on the original warrant, resisting arrest, trespassing, and loitering. Shortly thereafter, the lockdown was suspended with authorities issuing an “all clear” to the campus and area residents.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
