Robbery Suspect Remains at Large in Orcutt

Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

After several hours of searching, a robbery suspect in Orcutt remains outstanding. At approximately 9:13 a.m. this morning, deputies were dispatched to a 911 call in the 1100-block of Via Alta. The suspect reportedly stole the victim’s personal property, battered the victim, and fled the area prior to deputies’ arrival. The victim sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital by AMR. Sheriff’s K9 units, County Air Support, and the California Highway Patrol responded to assist with the search for the suspect in the area of the Okerblom Trail and surrounding gully.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. deputies spotted the suspect and requested that residents on Via Alta, between Bradley and Via Riviera, shelter in place while they searched the area. After a thorough search on the ground and from the air, deputies were unable to locate the suspect.  The shelter in place was lifted at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The suspect, who remains outstanding, is believed to have been living in the gully near Bradly and Via Alta near the Okerblom Trail. The suspect is described as a male, between 25 and 35 years old, with a scruffy beard, and was last seen wearing a black shirt and tan colored pants. Anyone with information about this suspect is encouraged to call Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805)683-2724. If the suspect is located, please do not approach him, call 911 immediately and be prepared to provide a location and description.

By an edhat reader

Residents of Orcutt took to social media for answers as helicopters hovered and uniformed officers began searching their usually quiet streets early Tuesday.

No official answers could be found via the SBCO Sheriff website, local news; residents relied upon each other to relay information on the unfolding situation. The first official texts and robo calls to shelter in place didn’t come until 3:15. The texts asked that residents close windows and doors, remain inside, sheltering in place. A robbery suspect at large.

My son got his license yesterday. He was blocks away, his new found freedom taking him to a friends. He called to check on me and make sure I had locked the windows and doors.