DUI Round Up
updated: Oct 09, 2012, 11:51 AM

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

In September 2012 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department made 43 arrests for driving under the influence violations. Numerous arrests are made each month when concerned citizens call 911 after witnessing possible DUI drivers. The SBPD would like to thank the responsible citizens who take the time to call and report suspected drunk drivers. The following is information on a few of those cases.

9/10/12 at 6:03 p.m.: Susan Bobay (age 51) was driving an RV and collided with a parked vehicle in the La Cumbre Mall parking lot. Officers Keller and Harrison arrived and contacted a citizen who had witnessed the collision. Bobay was the sole occupant of the RV and was displaying signs of alcohol intoxication. Officer Keller conducted a DUI investigation and determined that Bobay was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle. Officer Keller also suspected that Bobay was under the influence of a controlled substance. Bobay was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to the hospital to provide a blood sample. Bobay became uncooperative and violent, screaming and attempting to kick Officer Keller. Bobay refused to cooperate with the blood draw at the hospital prompting Officer Keller to transport Bobay to County Jail for a forced blood draw. At County Jail Bobay continued to refuse to submit to a blood test; nevertheless a blood sample was obtained through a forced blood draw that registered her BAC at .19. A records check revealed that Bobay had an extensive history of DUI convictions including a prior felony conviction. Bobay was booked at County Jail for felony DUI (prior felony conviction) and violation of probation with bail set at $100,000.00.

9/11/12 at 2:55 p.m.: Guillermo Arturo Gomez (age 57) was observed stumbling into the underground parking lot at Ralphs Grocery Store, 101 W. Carrillo Street. The witness was concerned about Gomez's well being and called 911. Sergeant Rauch and Officer Corbett responded to check on Gomez's welfare and contacted him as he was sitting in his vehicle in the lot. Officer Corbett contacted Gomez and noticed that he smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared very intoxicated. Gomez stated, "I'm drunk" and "take me to jail." Sergeant Rauch discovered that a nearby witness had seen Gomez drive into the underground parking lot. The witness positively identified Gomez as the driver of the vehicle. Officer Corbett conducted a DUI investigation and determined that Gomez was far too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle. A records check revealed that Gomez has had four DUI convictions since 2005 is currently on probation for DUI. He is required to have an ignition interlock device in his vehicle, which he did not have. Gomez was placed under arrest for DUI; he chose to complete a blood test, which registered his BAC at .28. He was booked at County Jail on $100,000.00 bail for felony DUI (DUI with 3 or more priors), suspended license, violation of probation, and ignition interlock device required.

9/12/12 at 7:53 a.m.: Wade Wesley Rogers (age 49) was driving a Penske moving truck when he collided with a parked vehicle on the 400 block of E. Yanonali Street. The owner of the parked vehicle witnessed the collision and saw Rogers flee the scene. The victim of the hit-and-run got into his vehicle and followed Rogers to 100 N. Calle Cesar Chavez where Rogers had pulled over to the side of the road. The victim blocked Rogers' truck and confronted him. Rogers again fled, hitting another parked vehicle in the process. The first victim called 911 and then lost sight of Rogers as he drove away. Officers LaTorre, Maragopoulos, Corbett, and Freytag responded. As the officers were searching for the suspect vehicle dispatch received a call advising that a Penske truck (driver later identified as Rogers) had collided with a school bus loaded with children at Santa Barbara Street and Cota Street. Rogers was eventually apprehended near the 400 block of E. Yanonali Street. Officer Corbett saw that Rogers appeared intoxicated and conducted a DUI investigation. After being identified by numerous witnesses Rogers admitted to all 3 hit-and-run collisions. He stated that he had driven the loaded Penske truck from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, and that prior to leaving Las Vegas had smoked crack cocaine. He also admitted to drinking half a pint of vodka and two beers. Officer Corbett had Rogers perform several field sobriety tests and determined that Rogers was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle. Rogers was placed under arrest and provided two breath samples that registered .16 and .15 BAC. It was discovered that Rogers is currently on probation for DUI. Rogers was booked into County Jail on $25,000 bail for DUI, violation of probation, suspended license, three counts of hit and run, and possession of a crack pipe.

9/16/12 at 1:52 a.m.: Latoya Adina Livingston (age 25) was observed driving her vehicle south on the 500 block of Anacapa Street with inoperative tail lights. Officer Cruz and Officer Bruce were driving behind Livingston's vehicle and observed her make several turns including a left onto State Street at an unsafe speed with tires screeching. Officer Cruz and Officer Bruce followed Livingston south on State Street and activated their overhead emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. Officer Cruz next activated the siren on their vehicle at State Street and the 101 overpass, however instead of yielding Livingston accelerated to an estimated 70 to 80 mph, making a right turn onto W. Mason Street and then a left turn onto Chapala Street, while failing to stop for posted stop signs. Officers Cruz and Bruce continued to follow Livingston in the narrow vehicle lined streets at an estimated 70 mph. Livingston's vehicle pulled into the Franciscan Inn at 109 Bath Street and struck a ramp at a high rate of speed, lifting all four tires of the vehicle off the ground. The vehicle came to a rapid stop just out of view and seconds later Livingston was seen running between cars away from her vehicle. Livingston was apprehended by Officers Cruz and Bruce and placed under arrest for felony evading. Officer Cruz noticed that Livingston was displaying signs of intoxication and conducted a DUI investigation. Livingston stated she had consumed two vodka tonic drinks at Tonic Nightclub prior to driving. Officer Cruz determined that Livingston was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed her under arrest for DUI. Livingston provided two breath samples which registered her BAC at .18 and .18. Livingston also provided a urine test for a re-testable sample. Livingston was booked at County Jail for felony evading, DUI, suspended license, and false identification to a peace officer.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 329619	2012-10-09 12:02 PM
Wow, I was going to make a snarky "welcome back UCSB & SBCC" remark, but the age demo is not what I was expecting.
COMMENT 329648	2012-10-09 12:54 PM
That Penske truck incident was a bad one - very lucky it wasn't worse - what a mess that guy made.
COMMENT 329657	2012-10-09 01:20 PM
Frosty was a good one. Epic fail.
COMMENT 329663	2012-10-09 01:27 PM
Nothing like a little crack before a six hour roadtrip. Who does that?
COMMENT 329673	2012-10-09 01:50 PM
Now I want SBPD to respond to the recent News-Press series where video recordings made in the county jail shows the embattled SBPD officer Kasi Beutel possibly planting heroin on a suspect being booked for DUI.
COMMENT 329691P	2012-10-09 02:20 PM
I agree with 673! That series was an eye opener, with videos to prove. I don't subscribe to The Newspress but was able to read/view the series on Peter Lance's website.
COMMENT 329706	2012-10-09 03:09 PM
Peter's prattling posts. Wow, it bums me out there are so many folks driving while Under the Influence. Anyone else agree, I'd like to see the mugshots. Small town we live in, I want to know who is disrespecting life--mine and their own--locally.

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