Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Reports 18 Arrests During Two Halloween Weekends in Isla Vista

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is sharing a recap of law enforcement activity in Isla Vista surrounding Halloween activity, including the weekend prior to Halloween.

Deputies encountered Halloween related crowds the weekend prior to Halloween, noting that many partygoers appeared to shift their plans and celebrate the weekend before Halloween in an effort to avoid the outdoor festival ordinance’s restrictions.

Throughout both weekends, the Sheriff’s Office worked in coordination with the University of California Police Department (UCPD), the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and other public safety partners to maintain order, respond to calls for service, and address violations related to alcohol, public safety, and criminal behavior.  

Lieutenant Joe Schmidt, who oversees Isla Vista operations, said “We anticipated that Halloween activity would begin earlier this year, and we responded with staffing levels that allowed us to meet the ebb and flow of crowds on both weekends. Our deputies, along with our law enforcement partners, worked proactively to keep Isla Vista safe, and we will continue evaluating staffing needs for future high-activity weekends.”  

While crowds were significant on October 24-25, operations remained manageable due to visible patrol presence, proactive enforcement, and strong collaboration among agencies.