Law and Disorder 12-18
Linda Jean Abeloe, 58, was stabbed to death in her home on Kenneth Avenue in Orcutt on 12/13. A brief investigation into the matter resulted in the arrest of her husband, Michael Carl Abeloe, who was taken into custody on murder charges and is being held at Santa Barbara County Jail on $1 million bail. (/abeloemurder)
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John Robert Schnackenberg, 48, a former Carpinteria resident, was found dead from a bullet wound to his chest on 12/10 near San Luis Obispo’s Edna Ranch. After Schnackenberg did not return to his home in rural San Luis Obispo County from a hunting trip, sheriff’s deputies searched and ultimately found his body. Investigators say the man may have been killed as the result of an accidental shooting.
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A 19-year-old man suffered a stab wound to his stomach during a fight with a 25-year-old man at a 12/13 party at a residence on the 500 block of Coronel Place. The alleged stabber, Joseph Ramos, turned himself in to police later that day, whereupon he was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Santa Barbara Police spokesperson Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte said that neither man appears to be associated with a gang, though he did say that alcohol was a factor in the fight. (/stabbing1218)
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The Isla Vista Foot Patrol (IVFP) celebrated its new $4.2 million patrol station at 6504 Trigo Road on 12/10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attending by various law enforcement officials and outgoing 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone. The structure, which the IVFP has been using since the summer, replaces a smaller Pardall Road office. The bigger digs will help the officers address I.V. crime, which is estimated to account for 25 percent of all crime in the county.
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Police announced on 12/11 that a year-long anti-drunk-driving program will be funded by a $128,851 grant to the City of Santa Barbara. The department plans to use the money for DUI checkpoints but also more focused actions such as stakeouts at spots where DUI is common and “court stings,” in which officers arrest people who get behind the wheel immediately after leaving court proceedings at which they had their driving privileges revoked. (/dui1218)
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The county is moving forward with a graffiti abatement ordinance in Isla Vista. County Redevelopment Agency funds will finance the ordinance, which could eventually expand to other unincorporated areas in the county. Under the ordinance, county crews would promptly remove graffiti on private and public property for free, in the hope that it would deter future vandalism.
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Citing far fewer donations this year to the Chips for Kids toy drive, which last year drew about 4,000 items, the Santa Barbara office of the California Highway Patrol is asking the public to drop off any new, unwrapped toys at various pick-up locations, including the CHP office at 6465 Calle Real, Golden One Credit Union at 5676 Calle Real, and Citibank offices at 3757 State Street and 5180 Hollister Avenue, among others. (/chptoys)
