Photo: Pedro BarajasGo straight to the heart of the
Santa Barbara County – The unincorporated area of Montecito, renowned as one of the most upscale residential communities in the country and the home to a plethora of industrial magnates and Hollywood celebrities, is apparently not immune to the impact of street-level criminal activity along its tree-lined lanes.
Barajas’ stash
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, the SBSD Special Investigations Bureau had information leading to the surveillance of a “construction foreman who was living in a trailer” at a residence on one of the community’s most prestigious streets.
The subject of interest, 54-year-old Pedro Barajas, was paid a visit by SIB and Compliance Response Team cops who had search warrants for the Montecito property in hand on the morning of April 19th, as well as search warrants for an additional residence in Tulare County.
K-9 Aco and gear
The service of those search warrants, conducted with the help of K-9 “Aco”, led to the discovery of “a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, 1.1 pounds of heroin packaged for sale, and more than $10,000 in cash.” The Tulare County search turned up additional evidence of Barajas’ sales activity involving controlled substances, including methamphetamine.
Barajas—a convicted felon–was taken into custody on the scene and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail. He was booked on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed with a Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Special Investigations Bureau
