Suspected Armed Robber Arrested in Labor Day Traffic

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

On September 7, 2020 at 4:56 P.M. the Santa Barbara Police Department received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery that had just occurred at a gas station in the 3800 Block of State Street.

Officers arrived within minutes and interviewed the reporting party as well as several witnesses. Officers quickly gleaned a description of a get-away vehicle, distinctive features of the culprit, and the last known direction of travel. That information was broadcast back to responding Officers and other allied agencies.

Russell Bradley Wallace (SBPD)

A responding Santa Barbara Police Officer that was heading northbound on 101 scanned southbound traffic and spotted a vehicle of interest matching the description provided by witnesses. That Officer was able to take an offramp and immediately re-enter southbound 101 in an effort to catch up with the suspect vehicle.

Southbound traffic was heavy due to Labor Day revelers returning home -- making it easier for Officers to converge on the suspect vehicle. With the help of CHP, Santa Barbara Police Officers conducted a felony stop and immediately brought the suspect into custody without incident. 

The alleged armed robber, now identified as Russell Bradley Wallace, a 29-year-old Ventura resident, was found with multiple pieces of evidence linking him back to the robbery.

Recovered from the vehicle were a loaded handgun, an AR15 assault rifle, numerous loaded magazines, along with an armored vest and ballistic helmet.

Wallace was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for armed robbery and weapons related charges.