Police Search for Armed Suspect

The helicopter circling the skies over the Eastside neighborhood for several hours Monday night signaled something was amiss, and as of 1 a.m., information from the Santa Barbara Police Department was scarce on who exactly the suspect they were looking for was or where he was hiding.

What Lt. Alex Altavilla did tell The Independent was that two probation officers were on a probation search in the Flamingo Mobile Home Park, 1210 Cacique St.-near Soledad and Indio Muerto Streets-when the suspect confronted them and attempted to hit them with a firearm. The suspect then fled and escaped.

Police believe the suspect is still holed up somewhere in the square block that contains the mobile home park and are currently combing from west to east through the park for him. A perimeter has been set up with various streets blocked off and is swarming with law enforcement, including K-9 units. As mentioned, a helicopter is also circling the area, occasionally shining a spotlight on the area.

The mobile command center was on location, and a S.W.A.T. team and crisis negotiator were brought in to attempt use voice commands to “negotiate and encourage him to come out,” Altavilla said.

Residents in the area have either cleared the area or been told to stay inside and lock their homes for the remainder of the night.

An arrest warrant for the man has been secured by detectives. The suspect is now wanted for assault with a deadly weapon. Neither of the two probation officers was injured.

For an update, check independent.com later today.