Photo: Jose Emanuel Torres
Santa Barbara – The upscale East Mission Street residential neighborhood adjacent to downtown Santa Barbara erupted in violence in the middle of the afternoon of December 10th. According to Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Anthony Wagner, 21-year-old state prison parolee Jose Emanuel Torres “attempted to gain entrance” to a home occupied by its elderly residents.
Torres’ attempt the enter the premises quickly devolved into a confrontation with the male resident whereupon “Torres attempted to strangle the elderly male victim and picked up the female victim and began to carry her.” At that point, Wagner reported, Torres unburdened himself and “dropped the woman” and then took off running.
Santa Barbara Police Department patrol officers soon responded to the scene. Once they had witness descriptions of the assailant, the cops located Torres “a short time later” and made contact with him. Reportedly “non-compliant” at the time of contact, Torres was promptly subdued, handcuffed, and taken into custody.
Subsequent investigation indicated that the male victim of the assault suffered serious injuries and was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment.
Torres as transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on charges of attempted homicide, kidnapping, elder abuse, burglary, and parole violation. He remain in custody on a no-bail hold.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
