Law and Disorder 7-24
Though the San Diego County medical examiner on 7/22 identified a body found floating in the San Luis Rey River as that of 19-year-old UCSB student Jaymie Rose Darrow, the examiner has not announced what caused her death. An autopsy revealed no signs of foul play. The Poway native would have begun her junior year this fall. There has been no announcement of a vigil for her classmates here in Santa Barbara. (/jaymiedarrow)
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Police arrested 44-year-old Paul Babich around noon on 7/21 after he allegedly attempted to take a car from the Santa Barbara County administration parking lot at 105 East Anapamu Street. According to police reports, Babich was intoxicated to the point that he struck five parked cars and a pole while attempting to exit the parking lot. He was arrested on multiple charges, including auto theft, hit and run, and driving while intoxicated. (/babich)
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Bob Sanger, attorney for accused rapist Massey Haraguchi, is planning to file a writ with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to review a decision made by the California Supreme Court. Sanger had alleged that a book written by prosecutor Joyce Dudley was based on the Haraguchi case, and thus she should be recused. The state Supreme Court disagreed. (Regardless, Dudley was taken off the case by District Attorney Christie Stanley, and Paula Waldman is now prosecuting Haraguchi.) If the country’s highest court declines to hear the case, Haraguchi’s trial could be underway by November.
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Iridian Sanchez Vargas-the 12-year-old girl who went missing 7/2 and was the subject of an extensive flyer campaign throughout Santa Barbara-has been in contact with her parents over the last few weeks, explained Santa Barbara Police Sergeant Bernie Gaona. She was last seen at her Santa Barbara house, ran away with a companion, and is now in Mexico. Vargas has been telling her parents that she does not want to come home.
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Nighttime thieves have stolen catalytic converters off of at least one dozen Toyotas- mostly 4Runners and pickups-in Santa Barbara neighborhoods over the past month, echoing a statewide trend. The exhaust system part is then either sold whole for $200, or is stripped of precious metals such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium, which sell for $6,000 per ounce. Police recommend welding the bolted converters into place. (/converters)