Criminal Car Swap

A Santa Barbara man was arrested Wednesday evening after he allegedly hijacked one car and abandoned another while pursuing his ex-girlfriend. At around 5:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers responded to a carjacking on U.S. 101 southbound, just south of Patterson Avenue. According to authorities, Edwin Castellanos-Sanchez, 44, had tried to contact his ex-girlfriend when she was done working for the day. After his attempt failed, he called and messaged her phone, hoping to speak to her. He was ignored again. According to authorities, Castellanos-Sanchez then followed the victim onto the highway and sped in front of her vehicle. He then slowed to a stop, forcing her car to stop directly behind his. After his ex still refused to speak to him, Castellanos-Sanchez forced her into the passenger seat of her car and drove off, leaving his car on the U.S. 101.

California Highway Patrol stopped the victim’s vehicle approximately one mile south of the carjacking site, and arrested the suspect. They have recommended Castellanos-Sanchez be charged with kidnapping, carjacking, auto theft, battery, and stalking. He has been booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail, and his bail has been set at $1,000,000.