By F. Scott Faulkner
– Santa Barbara County, CA
On the afternoon of August 24, Santa Maria Police Department officers were called to
assist the CHP with a reported road rage incident under investigation. Officers
encountered 34-year-old Santa Maria resident Emilio Borrayo Chavez, who refused to
comply with law enforcement’s verbal commands.
According to SMPD’s watch commander, Chavez then “used his vehicle in a threatening
manner,” aggressively driving toward officers and bystanders. As the threat level
increased, the CHP requested additional support from the Santa Barbara County
Sheriff’s Office.
As the standoff progressed and minutes turned to hours, additional units attached to
the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team, the California Highway
Patrol (CHP), and the Santa Maria Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics
(SWAT) team assembled in a show of considerable force. Consistently defiant, Chavez
eventually exited his vehicle, brandishing a long metal blunt object and threatening the
officers, which, as history tells us, is never a particularly good idea.
In response, officers fired sponge rounds at Chavez in an attempt to disarm him and
gain compliance. Chavez, however, continued to advance on the officers in a
threatening manner. A police K9 was then deployed, and although Chavez attempted to
fight off the K9, officers were able to safely approach and apprehend him, officials said.
No officers were injured during the incident, and Chavez sustained only minor injuries.
Chavez was taken into custody and was transported to Santa Barbara North County
Jail, where he was booked on multiple assault with a deadly weapon and battery
charges. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
