54 DUI Arrests in August 2012
updated: Sep 05, 2012, 11:03 AM

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

In August 2012 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department made 54 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.

8/2/12 at 1:18 a.m.: Christian Lloyd Loversky (age 21) was driving the wrong way down a parking lane in City Lot 11 when he almost collided with Sgt. M. McGrew who was traveling the correct way on the parking lane. Loversky parked his vehicle and exited, walking quickly away. Sgt. McGrew noticed that Loversky appeared intoxicated and requested Drinking Driver Team Officer Tudor who arrived to evaluate Loversky for impairment. Loversky stated he had consumed four large shots of tequila at the Sandbar prior to driving. Officer Tudor conducted a DUI investigation which included field sobriety tests and determined that Loversky was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle. Officer Tudor placed Loversky under arrest for DUI and Loversky chose a breath test; he provided two samples which registered .22 and .20 BAC. Loversky, who is on probation for DUI, was issued a citation and admitted into the Sobering Center.

8/5/12 at 2:13 a.m.: Jeffrey Michael Starns (age 21) was driving his SUV eastbound on Cliff Drive. Starns's vehicle collided with the south curb of Cliff Drive, where the road curves and travels downhill for eastbound traffic, causing his vehicle to leave the roadway and collide with a large stone wall. His vehicle rolled over and slid down the roadway on its roof. The momentum of the collision then flipped Starns's vehicle back upright and onto its wheels, enabling it to be driven. Starns was contacted by a witness who attempted to have Starns pull over to the side of the roadway; however Starns continued driving turning onto West Montecito Street and eventually into a driveway on Ladera Street. The collision left a large amount of debris on all four lanes of the roadway including a bumper, roof rack, computer components, a DVD player, a checkbook and other personal belongings. There was a fluid trail from the scene of the collision to the eventual resting place of the vehicle in the driveway. Officer Lowry arrived on scene and was contacted by Starns who initially advised Officer Lowry that he (Starns) had witnessed the driver of the vehicle fleeing northbound on foot. Several other witnesses arrived and Starns was eventually identified as and admitted to being the driver of the vehicle at the time of the collision. Starns was transported to Cottage Hospital for evaluation due to the severity of the collision. Officer Jensen conducted a DUI investigation and determined that the collision was due to Starns's level of intoxication. Starns was placed under arrest for DUI and chose to provide a blood sample which registered his BAC at .21. Starns was issued a citation and released into the care of Cottage Hospital.

8/10/12 at 2:12 a.m.: Kayvon Firouzan (age 23) was observed by Officer Clark driving northbound on De La Vina Street at a high rate of speed; De La Vina Street is a one-way southbound street. Officer Clark also noticed that his vehicle was driving without headlights on and that when it turned onto Cota Street it continued driving in the middle of the street. Officer Clark conducted a traffic stop and contacted Firouzan, whom she noticed had bloodshot watery eyes and smelled of alcohol. She asked him how much alcohol he had consumed prior to driving; however Firouzan stated he had not had any. Nevertheless, Officer Clark noticed that Firouzan was unsteady on his feet and appeared to have difficulty with simple tasks. She conducted a DUI investigation and determined that Firouzan was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest for DUI. Firouzan made numerous attempts to delay the chemical test, even going so far as to force himself to throw up; thus rendering a breath test impossible. Firouzan initially refused to submit to a blood test, only consenting after he was advised that he would be subjected to a forced blood draw. His blood test registered his BAC at .15. Firouzan was issued a citation and admitted into the Sobering Center.

8/12/12 at 8:09 p.m.: Harrison Kennedy Daly was driving and collided with the freeway underpass at Cabrillo Boulevard near Hot Springs Road. Daly was observed exiting his vehicle and walking towards Hot Springs Road and the nearby roundabout. A witness flagged down a passing sheriff's sergeant who stopped and detained Daly, who was bleeding from the face and feet. Officer Tuazon responded and contacted Daly while Officer Smit responded to the collision scene. After a lengthy investigation the following was determined. Daly was involved in a single vehicle collision with the freeway underpass. He had fled the scene, barefoot, towards the roundabout at Coast Village Road and Hot Springs where he was detained by the sheriff's sergeant. Daly was transported to Cottage Hospital where he was treated for injuries related to the accident including a forehead laceration imbedded with glass, consistent with the broken windshield from his vehicle, and injuries to his arms consistent with airbag deployment. Daly was uncooperative and combative with law enforcement, making numerous inconsistent statements that he was assaulted at the Vons parking lot and that he had not been driving. He refused to answer any questions regarding the DUI investigation and refused to cooperate with any field sobriety tests. CSI Officers were able to locate and later book numerous items of evidence from Daly's vehicle such as blood drops, hair fibers, a checkbook in Daly's name and a blood trail which led from the vehicle to the location where Daly was detained. Daly was eventually arrested and provided two breath samples which registered his BAC at .17 and .18. Daly was released to the care of Cottage Hospital with a citation for DUI.

8/21/12 at 4:02 p.m.: Abel Carlos Santamaria was stopped at a stop sign at Castillo Street and Islay Street and not proceeding forward, prompting the citizen stopped in a vehicle behind Santamaria to honk their horn for several minutes to get him to move. When Santamaria did drive away the citizen observed him weaving, driving in the bicycle lane, failing to drive through several cycles of green lights at several intersections, and also driving through red lights. The citizen contacted 911 to report a possible drunk driver. Santamaria was contacted by Officer Beecher and Officer G. Reyes in his stopped vehicle on the 200 block of E. Gutierrez Street. Officer Beecher spoke with the citizen while Officer G. Reyes contacted Santamaria. Santamaria initially stated he had not consumed any alcohol, but later stated that he had one beer. Officer Reyes conducted a DUI investigation and determined that Santamaria was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle. Santamaria was placed under arrest for DUI and initially refused to submit to a chemical test. After being given a formal chemical test admonishment, including a warning that he would have to submit to a forced blood draw if he refused, Santamaria chose to provide a blood sample; his BAC registered .28. It was discovered that Santamaria is currently on probation for DUI. He was booked into County Jail with bail set at $25,000 for DUI and driving on a suspended license.

8/25/12 at 11:51 p.m.: Guadalupe Quezada (age 21) was stopped by Officer Peterson for having an inoperable license plate light and an inoperable brake light. When Quezada yielded for the traffic stop he made a right turn into a parking lot, hitting both the curb and a parking stop block causing his vehicle to jolt and bounce. Officer Peterson noticed that Quezada appeared intoxicated with bloodshot watery eyes, an odor of alcohol and slurred speech. Officer Peterson was concerned that Quezada was too intoxicated to safely operate a motor vehicle and requested another officer to assist. Officer Kamin arrived and conducted a DUI investigation on Quezada who stated he had consumed one or two beers prior to driving. Officer Kamin determined that Quezada was too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest for DUI. Quezada chose a breath test and provided two samples which registered his BAC at .22 and .22. He was issued a citation and admitted into the Sobering Center.

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