Four Officers Injured Arresting Hate Crime Battery Suspect
Update by Santa Barbara Police Department
January 21, 2022
On January 20, 2022, around 4:50pm, the Santa Barbara Police Combined Communications Center received a report of a battery in progress occurring in the 500 block of Bath Street. Officers arrived on scene and observed the suspect actively battering the 64-year-old male victim.
An SBPD K-9 Officer verbally ordered the suspect to cease the attack. The suspect looked at the Officer and fled northbound running into an apartment complex. The victim informed the K-9 Officer the suspect had potentially robbed him of his cellular phone. Multiple other Officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter around the complex. A Motorcycle Officer was able to locate the suspect on a second story balcony of the apartment complex.
The suspect, later identified as Carlos Undabahena, a 21-year-old Santa Maria resident, failed to obey multiple Officer’s commands to surrender and fled into an apartment that had its front door open. Officers pursued Undabahena into the residence for a moment where he attempted to punch and actively fight multiple Officers. One of the Officers was struck in the face by Undabahena and a foam, non-lethal projectile was deployed striking him in the leg having little effect. The K-9 Officer then deployed his police dog, biting Undabahena. Undabahena was able to break free from the police dog and attempted to flee again. Officers gave chase and after a brief foot pursuit Undabahena was taken into custody.
During the incident, Undabahena managed to injure a total of three Officers and one Sergeant. All the Officers were treated for some form of minor – moderate injuries. One was treated at Cottage Hospital Emergency Room. Undabahena sustained minor injuries and refused all forms of medical treatment. The victim sustained minor injuries and sought his own medical treatment.
Once Undabahena was in custody, Officers learned from the victim that he was making multiple homophobic threats and statements while attacking.
Undabahena was arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail for Violence Against an Officer (felony), Battery Causing Injury to an Officer (felony), Resisting Arrest (misdemeanor), Hate Crime (misdemeanor), and Battery (misdemeanor). Undabahena also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He is being held on $50,000 bail.
Reported by Scanner Andrew
5:13 p.m., January 20, 2022
An assault occurred in the 500 block of Bath Street resulting in a major police response
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38 Comments
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Jan 20, 2022 05:13 PMSuspect ran away but was later caught
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Jan 20, 2022 05:14 PMIn custody
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Jan 20, 2022 05:14 PMMultiple officers are on scene investigating
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Jan 20, 2022 05:15 PMTwo medics are enroute for an injured officer and the suspect
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Jan 20, 2022 05:52 PMHope the officer is okay.
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Jan 21, 2022 08:15 AMThose “keep LA 100 miles away” bumper stickers weren’t the repellent I thought they’d be
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Jan 21, 2022 01:50 PMCONSERVATIVESB - or in this case, Santa Maria...... weird you thought it was some LA gang?
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Jan 21, 2022 09:18 AMi cam upon this yesterday on my way home. One of the officers is a good friend of mine. Story is, younger guy, mentally impaired at the time, attacked a few locals hanging out on the wall having a cigarette. the attackees are fine, defended themselves. It was a pretty big police presence. A lot of witnesses.
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Jan 21, 2022 01:51 PMZERO - what do you mean "mentally impaired at the time?" Was he intoxicated or something? Glad everyone is ok though!
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Jan 25, 2022 09:45 AMSac, meaning he wasn't in a right state of mind. i think he either had a mental breakdown or was on something...he wasn't acting "normal" thats for sure.
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Jan 21, 2022 11:53 AMThanks Zerohawk....is an officer injured?
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Jan 21, 2022 01:08 PMnot really. minor abrasions from the take down/arrest. nothing serious from what i saw and was told. all parties are alive, and well. 1 in jail.
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Jan 21, 2022 03:22 PM@awarehuman: According to the press release, posted above, 3 officers and 1 sergeant were injured.
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Jan 22, 2022 04:31 AMI assume that regarding law enforcement, abrasions and bruises are considered "injuries." Which they should be, from an employment perspective. It can be difficult sometimes to extend it to some professions, especially those that involve physical activity, but if I get a bruise from a customer or protester while I'm working at a medical clinic, shelter (2 or 4 legged) or the office of ANY profession, I want it noted when I'm injured! I've been a testifying witness for a supervisor who was attacked on the job, this was decades ago.
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Jan 22, 2022 04:34 AMZHawk, I perceive you're an LE supporter. What is your take on classifying a bruise or scratch on an officer as "an injured officer"?
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Jan 22, 2022 04:45 AMWhat I mean by abrasions and bruises"in this case and re: LE is the kind of tiny cuts, scrapes and bruises one may come up with after a full day working in the garden or even cooking. I often find nicks, scrapes and bruises that I have no recollection of getting while house cleaning, gardening and working in the kitchen.
I don't think we ever know the extent of officers' injuries unless and until they are cited in court documents.
It's still right to have them medically checked so that the injuries can be documented.
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Jan 22, 2022 07:57 PMI’m glad the injuries are not serious. But any injuries count. If someone scratched or bruised me in my job, you can bet I wouldn’t laugh it off. And any time the skin is broken, that’s an avenue for serious infection. So, not trivial.
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Jan 24, 2022 09:05 AMnot sure that i'm an LE supporter, but what they are classifying as injuries, are minor. any type of injury that they receive on duty has to be recorded and documented. they really don't have a choice in the matter.an abrasion could be minimal but i've had plenty that just sucked and were painful.
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Jan 21, 2022 01:27 PMHe'll be out soon enough, we are in California, where crime actually pays.
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Jan 21, 2022 01:46 PMGood dog. Bite twice. Vigilante justice. They'll release him saying he's not responsible because he's crazy. Free to attack again.
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Jan 21, 2022 01:52 PM50k bail? For a guy that ran from and battered the cops? Any legal experts know why the charges aren't x4, one for each cop?
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Jan 22, 2022 04:27 AMAnd noozhawk reported it was 30k! Wonder if that's still posted.
"According to the Sheriff’s Office custody records, Undabahena was being held on $30,000 bail as of Friday. "
https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_police_arrest_hate_crime_battery
It may, of course, be edited by the time you read it. One of these two sources is incorrect. I was shocked to read how low the bail was and I'm liberal supporter of bail reform.
Zerohawk, no neighborhood talk of what crap the attacker was talking?
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Jan 22, 2022 01:07 PMWhen you look up his name in the "Who Is In Custody" on Sbsheriff.org, it says his bail is $30,000. However, the official SBPD press release says $50,000, not sure why.
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Jan 22, 2022 09:30 PMIs it possible for the cops to sue him for their injuries? I don't see why a perp should get a break on a civil assault charge.
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Jan 24, 2022 09:06 AM447, bunch of homophobic (anti) rants and other nonsense.
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Jan 24, 2022 10:31 PM1-22 @ 9:30 - Depending on the circumstances relative to the injury(ies), the answer to your question could be yes, no & maybe. Check 1714.9 of the California Civil Code.
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Jan 26, 2022 10:59 AMno they can't sue him. that is their job...and taking the job requires accepting risks to ones self.
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Jan 26, 2022 10:59 AMwait, so i answered a direct question with a direct answer coming from a few of the law enforcement officers that were present and I get 2 DV? ok then lol....weird people....
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Jan 21, 2022 07:46 PMYes.
All four are injured in a cumulative way that will enlarge their pensions
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Jan 24, 2022 10:36 PMEDNEY - I heard pensions were based on position/rank and years in service. What is the "cumulative way" you refer to?
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Jan 21, 2022 07:50 PMI think Police Panthers might be a good idea; bad guys wouldn't be gettin' away from them. Then again, cats are hard to train...
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Jan 23, 2022 11:39 PMAnd they have a habit of eating their catch...
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Jan 22, 2022 03:49 PMYoung man attacks an old man. Does he beat up on children and the disabled, too? What a wimp.
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Jan 23, 2022 05:31 PMI see a number of police haters out here who still think cops should be downgraded (“defund the police!!”). Give it up. Go ahead and try to jump in and deal with such a situation if you want to.
I didn’t think so.
If you’re sour because you think your tax dollars are being wasted you’re right, but it’s not coming from law enforcement. It’s the local government ‘sitting in a chair beauracracy’ that’s doing that.
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Jan 23, 2022 07:36 PMHow is it that people still don't know what is meant by "defund" the police.
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Jan 24, 2022 09:06 PMWe have seen what 'defund the police' means over the last year. It means less money for law enforcement, it means releasing criminals back onto the street early, and it means an incredibly high increase in crime nation wide.
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Jan 24, 2022 09:18 PM@9:06
Nice fantasy.
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Jan 25, 2022 10:35 AMThat's really not what it means. But, you do you.