Santa Barbara police reported arresting a Santa Barbara man on Sunday, October 12, after a spectacle of violence on the 800 block of San Pascual Street. An officer arrived at a residence there to find the man grabbing his former girlfriend by the hair and dragging her along the ground. The man’s proximity to the woman violated a previous restraining order, it would later be revealed.

Following his violent interaction with the woman, the man grabbed a knife and chased another man exclaiming, “I’m going to kill you!” During this time, the woman attempted to call 911 on her cell phone, but it was promptly destroyed by the man. When police finally apprehended the man, he gave a false name, “Jose Campos Ortiz.” Ultimately, the man was arrested on six misdemeanor charges. His bail was withheld.

According to the police narrative of the events, the female victim’s children were present during the altercation. One who complained of chest pain was transported to the hospital after the man’s arrest. The report did not say how the child’s chest pain related to incident.

In a separate incident on Saturday, October 11, an alleged transient was arrested on charges of petty theft and being drunk in public, police reported. A manager of the Ralphs grocery store at 100 West Carrillo St. reported that a man had entered the store, grabbed two avocados, and then walked out. When confronted by the manager, the avocado thief told him he had no money for the fruit. When later asked by an officer about the incident, however, the man claimed he took two avocados, gave one back, paid for the other and ate it.

According to the police report of the incident, the alleged avocado thief smelled strongly of alcohol and said he had previously drunk a pint of vodka. The man was taken into custody for his own safety. It was noted that he owed $13.98 to Ralphs.

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