On March 9, 2026, at approximately 1 a.m., Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 100 blk. of W. Tunnell Street.
During the contact, a firearm was observed inside the vehicle. The driver, Eric Perez, 43, of Santa Maria, was detained.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded handgun, a significant quantity of suspected narcotics, and currency consistent with narcotics sales.
Perez was taken into custody without incident and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for multiple felony weapons violations and possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales.
Also Read
- Driver Cited for Traveling 124 mph on Highway 101 near Turnpike in Santa Barbara
- UCSB Police Issue Warning After Reported Unwanted Touching on MTD Bus, Stalking at North Hall Bus Loop
- Significant Decrease in Arrests, Citations, and Medical Calls for Deltopia 2026
- Goleta Man Arrested for Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend’s New Boyfriend
- Santa Maria Police Respond to Shooting, No Victims Reported
$5 a purchase? What narcotic are we talking about?
Back in the 90s, $5 could send you to the outer reaches of the galaxy. Well, if you had the real stuff.