March 9, 2022 – Santa Barbara, Ca.
Just when we thought it was safe to take off our masks and once again enjoy the pleasure of restaurant dining, the events of March 8 th in one of Santa Barbara’s most popular oceanfront restaurants might soon have us wearing flak jackets and military helmets as we slurp our clam chowder.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale, it was at approximately 7:00 p.m. on the night of March 8 th when a 911 Emergency call was received from the staff at the Brophy Bros. Restaurant, located at Santa Barbara Harbor. Upon arrival at the scene, officers learned that one of the restaurant patrons—still seated at his table and
enjoying dinner—was responsible for setting off a pyrotechnic device before returning to his table.
The immediately ensuing investigation, wherein the officers accessed “surveillance footage from inside the restaurant,” indicated that the man identified by other restaurant patrons at the scene “walked out of the restroom and threw an unknown object near the kitchen.”
Moments later “a bright flash could be observed from the object thrown by the subject.” It was quickly determined that the object in question was a “flash-bang used by trained law enforcement and military personnel to create sound and light diversions.” Officers then made contact with 55-year-old Santa Barbara resident Carl Strand and took him into custody.
Strand was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on a felony charges of malicious and reckless possession of a destructive or explosive device and exploding or igniting a destructive device. He remains in custody with his bail set at $500,000.
Photo: Courtesy www.brophybros.com
