Three Arizona men were arrested in Goleta on Thursday in connection with a kidnapping and theft a few hours earlier in Carpinteria, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
MPs were dispatched around 5:40 am to the Chevron gas station on Via Real and Santa Monica Road in Carpinteria, after a woman reported that she had been kidnapped and robbed by three men, said Raquel Zick, the sheriff’s public information officer.
“The officers found that an adult victim was kidnapped and forcibly stolen by three suspects who fled in a vehicle before the officers arrived,” said Zick, adding that one of the suspects was armed.
The victim did not need medical attention and remained on the scene, Zick said.
About three hours later, an alert citizen who learned of the theft from the local media reported to the sheriff’s dispatchers that the suspicious vehicle, a golden sedan with a flat tire, was in a tire store on block 200 on South Fairview Avenue, Zick said .
Police officers converged on the area and took the three suspects into custody without incident, Zick said, adding that one of the men was found in possession of a hidden firearm.
South Fairview Avenue was closed for a short while while police arrested the trio.
The suspects are all from Tucson, Zick said, and have been identified as Barry Mullins, 22, Seanray Allen, 22, and James Johnson, 18.
All three were arrested at Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of theft, conspiracy and kidnapping, said Zick.
Mullins was also charged with misdemeanor charges, including possession of a loaded gun in a public place and possession of a concealed weapon.
The bail for each was set at $ 1 million.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all members of the community who were watching these suspects,” said Zick. “We would also like to highlight the good sense of the witness who remained at a safe distance, immediately called 9-1-1 and provided useful information for the response units.”
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