Two people are facing a variety of criminal charges following an early morning car, and foot chase in a South Coast community involving a Sheriff’s Department helicopter, and K-9 dogs.
A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputy noticed two people sitting in a car parked outside of a convenience store on the 1100 block of Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria around 3 a.m. yesterday.
When the officer ran the license plates, he discovered the car had been stolen in Simi Valley. An effort to stop the car as it was leaving led to a chase through Carpinteria.
Deputies say the driver, Efran Martinez, abandoned the car on the 5900 block of Via Real, and eluded deputies for nearly two hours before being found inside of a parked vehicle.
The 26 year old man was arrested on a half dozen charges ranging from resisting arrest to auto theft.
The passenger, Catalane Padilla of Long Beach, was arrested in the vehicle for possession of stolen property, auto theft and conspiracy.
