Sheriff Releases Identity of One Suspect in Robbery of Carpinteria Cannabis Facility

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of one suspect connected to a burglary of a Carpinteria cannabis facility.

The adult suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abraham Bustos of Lynwood, was arrested after a blue BMW SUV crashed and rolled during the incident.

Bustos was booked at the Main Jail on multiple felony charges, including burglary, conspiracy, grand theft, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded handgun, and child endangerment. He has since been released on $100,000 bail.

Two additional suspects, both 17-year-old juveniles, were also arrested. They were booked into the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall on felony charges including burglary, conspiracy, and possession of an unregistered firearm, as well as a misdemeanor charge of obstruction.

The incident began at approximately 2:57 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, when deputies were dispatched to the 4500-block of Foothill Road for a report of a burglary in progress.

Within minutes, deputies learned that the suspects had fled the scene in several vehicles. The situation quickly escalated when, shortly thereafter, dispatch received a report of a traffic collision at Foothill Road and Santa Monica.

Responding deputies discovered a blue BMW SUV that had crashed and overturned. Three suspects were attempting to flee the crashed vehicle.

Deputies successfully detained two of the suspects without incident. A third suspect became combative and was taken into custody after a deputy deployed a Taser.

A handgun was later recovered from inside the overturned SUV. All three suspects were evaluated by medical personnel at the scene, and no significant injuries were reported, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Minutes later, a second related crime scene was established when deputies found a white and black Infiniti abandoned after a crash near Foothill Road and Cravens Lane. Investigators believe the occupants of the Infiniti may have escaped by getting into a third vehicle that fled the area.

The incident triggered a massive law enforcement response, with the Sheriff’s Office being assisted by the Santa Barbara Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and a Santa Barbara County Air Support helicopter.

As a precaution, an emergency shelter-in-place order was issued for residents along Foothill Road from Santa Monica to Linden Avenue, and south to U.S. Highway 101. The significant police presence, including overhead helicopters and sirens, startled residents awake. One reported being woken at 5 a.m. by an emergency alert warning of “armed robbers.”

Deputies conducted an extensive, hours-long search of the area but did not locate any additional suspects. The shelter-in-place order was lifted around 5:30 a.m.

While three suspects have been arrested, authorities believe others involved in the burglary remain at large and should be considered armed. 

The investigation is ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office encourages community members to remain vigilant and call 911 if they see anyone suspicious.