Local Stories by Local People
updated: Oct 09, 2012, 5:06 PM

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office just filed criminal charges against a man who allegedly threatened Sheriff's deputies with a gun early Saturday morning in Goleta.

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

COMMENT 329789	2012-10-09 06:46 PM
The officer's gun did all the talking and said what needed to be said. I live near there and it was a cluster all because someone needed to act the fool. It's a neighborhood full of families with little kids, older folks etc. There is no place for behavior like this and I hope there never will be.
COMMENT 329790	2012-10-09 06:49 PM
He was just exercising his second amendment right to bear arms. What's the point of having a gun if you can't bring it out and show it off?
COMMENT 329794	2012-10-09 06:57 PM
Do illegals have amendment rights? It maybe a dumb question but just asking.
COMMENT 329795	2012-10-09 07:02 PM
What he did was terrible and illegal. He needs to be put away, his "gang" thinks that brandishing semi automatic weapons is ok in a family neighborhood....it is not ok. However, the property owners should be also held liable....they knew him, knew his gang affiliations, knew that he was violent...they knew about who he was and yet invited him to their home...if I was a neighbor there I would seriously keep away from those neighbors, and report any and all suspicious people near that home...because that "family" has links to the gangs..and brought violence to that area.
COMMENT 329803	2012-10-09 07:32 PM
Cliff, it's not WHITE people, it's concerned citizens of the community. You really need to get off your Hitler rant and go enjoy a glass of wine or something. Fact: I have been here since I was born and things are getting ugly with the youth and gangs. I hope this guy gets everything thrown at him and get's a max sentence. I like others am sick of seeing great neighborhoods go down the drain because some kid decides that he needs his/her own stomping grounds and claims it as their own.
COMMENT 329815	2012-10-09 07:50 PM
Does he have money for a attorney?
COMMENT 329827	2012-10-09 08:14 PM
Is he illegal? Why would you act this way in a host country?
COMMENT 329834	2012-10-09 08:19 PM
Thank your nanny state people.
COMMENT 329835	2012-10-09 08:21 PM
thank you law enforcement!! This kind of activity is unacceptable. I live in the area and would like to continue to live in the area in peace without fearing stray bullets.
COMMENT 329880	2012-10-10 07:36 AM
eff SB sheriffs Cliffdweller? This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with a guy confronting officers at 3am with a gun. Duh.
COMMENT 329883	2012-10-10 07:51 AM
I've known this guy for many years and he's always been a knuckle head. Also, he was born here so u can throw all that illegal crap out the window.. yeah, sorry to break it to u all, he's as much a citizen as you and I. Anyway, he will be doing some time for this, which is unfortunate for his young child, but anybody can do time, been there done that. What sucks for him is it doesn't just go away after that because on one hand he only has two fingers left and that's if they can save them. But, that's what happens when you don't listen to a cop with a bigger gun than you.
COMMENT 329886	2012-10-10 07:57 AM
883, thanks for the info. I'm not sure I like the thought that "anybody can do time". Although in theory it is true, that we are all capable of terrible things, that kind of thinking is what makes it easier for people to slip down that slope and feel like it's not a big deal to brandish weapons and or argue with a cop. I feel terrible for his kid. Also, I assumed he was a citizen. No illegal I know would be that defiant.
COMMENT 329914	2012-10-10 08:48 AM
886.. i made my mistakes and had to do 6 years in prison for a horrible one but i came out a much better person with a new appreciation for life. Everyone has to live with their mistakes and that can be harder than doing the time. I have to live with mine for the rest of my life and so will he and hopefully he will let it turn him into a better man as i did..
COMMENT 329918	2012-10-10 08:56 AM
There is a lot of jumping to conclusions. Maybe he is a bad guy. However the police often run in and shoot and create the reason afterward. I would withhold judgement until there is a more complete statement of facts. I always remember that I had a very good friend who was shot and killed by police in his own backyard. According to the police it was a necessary shooting although he never fired a shot.
COMMENT 329944	2012-10-10 09:52 AM
@ 794 No, the Constitution only protects citizens of the United States, so the 2nd Amendment right would not apply to non-citizens. That aside, this guy got what he deserved regardless of what color or nationality he is. Hopefully, this will be wake up call to all the other wannabe thugs out there that you are NOT allowed to act like an idiot in our town!
COMMENT 329949	2012-10-10 09:58 AM
918, you think police should wait until they are fired upon? We'd have a lot more dead cops and a lot more criminals feeling like they could waive a gun wherever they wanted. I don't like this outcome anymore than you (and I'm sorry for your friend), but if you are flashing a gun around and appear to be a threat, what would you do if you were the cop in that situation? If the perp goes ahead and does shoot someone innocent, how would you feel then? Obviously I don't know the exact facts in this particular case, but I do want someone keeping the peace in my neighborhood. I want my kids to grow up without fear of senseless violence in THEIR neighborhood.
COMMENT 329990	2012-10-10 11:34 AM
I, too, want peace in the neighborhood. I want my children to respect the police. in the present situation we have police shootings, 1. Perp shootings, 0. It may be that we have more to fear of the police than the citizens.
COMMENT 329993	2012-10-10 11:39 AM
990 - get over it already. If the guy was waving a semi-automatic weapon at the cops, they have to protect themselves and others. The only way is to fire a couple non-lethal shots - which they did. I used to be a typical anti-establishment teen but now, as a father of 2 young boys, I'm always glad to see the police doing what they're trained to do: protect us! And with the rise in violent crimes over the years here in our town, I'm glad to see them in action!
COMMENT 329999P	2012-10-10 11:50 AM
914 good to hear you have come out better on the other side hopefully he will have the same positive and personal growth you have
COMMENT 330018	2012-10-10 12:57 PM
990, why do you think nieghbors were calling 911? They heard perps SHOOTING, so yes, they were shooting. Just lucky they didn't hit anyone! Sheesh. Fear the police??? The police wouldn't have even shown up if it hadn't been for people FIRING GUNS in a neighborhood. It's not a shooting range. Please offer your wisdom on how law enforcement should've approached the subject with the gun in a front yard in an area full of innocent sleeping families????

5% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.

*** 3 comments were deleted from this thread by the Edhat Board Nanny for violating Edhat Comments Board policy. Click Here to see them.