Three men in Arizona were arrested in Goleta on Thursday in connection with a kidnapping and robbery that took place a few hours earlier in Carpinteria, according to the Sheriff’s Office in Santa Barbara County.
Deputies were sent to the Chevron gas station at Via Real and Santa Monica Road in Carpinteria around 5:40 a.m. after a woman reported being abducted and robbed by three men, sheriff’s public information officer Raquel Zick said.
“Deputies have learned that an adult female victim was forcibly abducted and robbed by three suspects who fled in a vehicle prior to the deputies’ arrival,” Zick said.
The victim did not need medical help and remained at the scene, Zick said.
About three hours later, a vigilant citizen who heard the local media of the robbery sent to the sheriff’s dispatch that the suspect vehicle, a gold-colored sedan with a flat tire, was in a tire in the 200 block of South Fairview Avenue, Zick. said.
Deputies gathered in the area and arrested the three suspects without incident, Zick said, adding that one of the men was in possession of a concealed firearm.
South Fairview Avenue was closed for a short time while deputies 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 booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy and kidnapping, Zick said.
Mullins has also been charged on charges of misconduct, including carrying a loaded firearm in a public place and carrying away a concealed weapon.
Bail for each has been set at $ 1 million.
“The sheriff would like to thank all community members who watched these suspects,” Zick said. “We also want to highlight the sound judgment of the witness who stayed a safe distance, immediately called 9-1-1 and provided useful information for responding units.”
– Tom Bolton, executive editor of Noozhawk, can be reached (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Get in touch with Noozhawk on Facebook.