Armed Felon Arrested Twice Within Three Days

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

On Saturday, January 16, 2021, at approximately 11:40 P.M., the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to a closed business in the 100 Block of Nopalitos Way for an alleged burglary-in-progress.

Upon arrival, Officers established a wide perimeter which included Police K9 ‘Kyra.’

The suspect, now identified as Santa Barbara resident, Curt Cary Carpenter, age 54, was seen fleeing the property after jumping a fence line. Officers continued to track Carpenter and contained him within the perimeter.

Curt Cary Carpenter

During a K9 search of the area, K9 Kyra located Carpenter hiding inside a vehicle.  After giving multiple commands to exit, he eventually came out and was taken into custody without incident.

During the subsequent investigation, Officers learned that Carpenter was possibly associated with a vehicle parked in a nearby parking lot. During an inventory search, Officers located a loaded 9mm Springfield XD9, high end scoped pellet rifle, cattle prod style taser and a large quantity of methamphetamine.

Carpenter, a convicted felon, was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail the morning of January 17, 2021, on multiple felony charges including; burglary, possession of a loaded firearm, felon in possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of drugs.

On Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at approximately 3:40 A.M., Santa Barbara Police Officers were dispatched to a motel in the 2800 Block of State Street, on a report of multiple people causing a disturbance.

When the officers arrived, they contacted an individual at the threshold of a motel room who looked to be in distress. Officers suspected a possible robbery-in-progress by a concealed person within the room. Officers gained entry and ordered all occupants out at gunpoint.
 
A subject now identified as Curt Carpenter, attempted to further conceal himself and refused to comply with Officer commands. Officers feared Carpenter may have a weapon. Carpenter attempted to shut the door on Officers and was tased. Carpenter fell to the ground and was directed by Officers to comply by crawling out of the room. He was then taken into custody.
 
Within the room and associated with Carpenter, Officers recovered a loaded Glock style .45 acp handgun, a stun gun bat, a large quantity of methamphetamine, heroin, several other illicit pills and a large sum of cash.
 
On the morning of January 19, 2021 Carpenter was booked once again in Santa Barbara County Jail on multiple felony charges stemming from the motel incident. Those include: robbery, burglary, making criminal threats, false imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm without a serial number, and resisting arrest. Drug-related charges include possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm and possession of drugs for sale.
 
A $1 million-dollar bail increased was approved by a Santa Barbara County Judge.