Santa Barbara police responded to Leadbetter Beach late Sunday morning after reports of a disturbance involving two men armed with unusual weapons.
According to a statement from the Santa Barbara Police Department, dispatchers received multiple calls around 11:51 a.m. on September 21 about an altercation in which one man was reportedly carrying a firearm or Taser, while the other armed himself with a fishing spear.
By the time officers arrived, the two had split up. One man walked west along the beach toward Leadbetter Point, where officers contacted him and recovered part of a fishing spear. He provided a statement at the scene. The second man left on a bicycle through the parking lot and was not located despite an extensive search.
“Based on several independent witnesses, as well as the involved male’s statement, it appears the outstanding male possessed and brandished a taser-like device,” SBPD said in a press release.
Police emphasized the incident appears to be isolated and said there are no public safety concerns at this time.
