Former City Councilmember Arrested
updated: Sep 20, 2012, 1:11 PM

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

Former Santa Barbara City Councilmember Iya Diana Gaynes Falcone, age 57, was arrested for driving under the influence and hit & run following a non-injury traffic collision with a parked car.

On September 19, 2012 at 10:46 a.m., officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to the parking lot to the rear of the shopping center at 1818 Cliff Drive on a call of a DUI driver that had just been involved in a traffic collision. The collision was witnessed by a man who noticed that the female driver and sole occupant of the suspect vehicle appeared intoxicated. He called the police. Upon arrival the investigating officers located the suspect vehicle parked in the lot, a black BMW 323i registered to Ms. Falcone. Also parked in the lot was the vehicle that had been struck, a black Toyota Prius. The officers located Ms. Falcone at the front of the shopping center, walking eastbound, away from the scene. A DUI investigation was conducted and Ms. Falcone was subsequently arrested. Her vehicle was impounded.

Investigation indicates that prior to the collision Ms. Falcone had been at the Mesa Café at 1972 Cliff Drive, where she had consumed alcohol. After leaving the Mesa Café she drove to the shopping center across the street to go to Mesa Liquors at 1818 Cliff Drive, where she intended to purchase cigarettes and wine. While driving in the parking lot she struck a parked Toyota Prius, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Following the collision Ms. Falcone left the scene without leaving her personal and vehicle registration and insurance information for the owner of the Prius.

Ms. Falcone was transported to the Santa Barbara Police Department for further investigation where she submitted to a chemical test to measure her blood alcohol content. At 12:29 p.m. she provided two breath samples that registered her BAC at .24 and .23. At the conclusion of the investigation Ms. Falcone was issued a misdemeanor citation for DUI and hit & run with a court date of October 25, 2012. She was then released to the custody of a friend.

A booking photo is not yet available. Ms. Falcone has until her first scheduled court appearance to undergo the booking process, which includes the taking of a photograph and LiveScan digital fingerprinting.

	23152, 20002. A drunk driver reportedly committed a hit and run off Cliff Drive and Meigs. The subject is in the liquor store after hitting a vehicle in the parking lot. SBPD is responding. (09/20/12)	1923	2
	Former Santa Barbara City Councilmember, Iya Falcone was arrested Wednesday morning for alleged drunk driving. (09/21/12)	1740	40

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