Photo: Alejandro Fonseca
January 10, 2021 – Santa Barbara, Ca.
As the evening of January 8th approached the midnight hour, a pair of uniformed Santa Barbara Police Department officers conducting parole compliance checks on the city’s Eastside, made contact with two known local area gang members who quickly made it clear they weren’t interested an complying with anything.
According to SBPD Public Engagement Officer Anthony Wagner, as the cops made contact with 27-year-old Santa Barbara resident Alejandro Fonseca inside a Milpas Street convenience store, they let him know of “their intent to conduct a compliance check.”
Fonseca immediately attempted to make a hasty departure from the premises, but the cops physically restrained him. At that point, Fonseca “immediately reached for his waistband” and ignored all verbal commands with “his actions becoming more aggressive.”
Felipe alejandro Flores
Fonseca was immediately forced to the ground, but he continued to resist and regained his footing, calling out to Flores for help in dealing with the cops. Just as Flores indicated that he was indeed going to come to assist Fonseca, “additional resources” arrived and were brought to bear. Fonseca was soon forcibly taken into custody, at which point “a loaded handgun in his waistband” was discovered.
With Fonseca in handcuffs and Flores momentarily detained for questioning, a search of their vehicle revealed another loaded handgun in the vehicle. Both men were then arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where they were booked on multiple parole violations and felony weapons charges.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
