Three Arizona men were arrested in Goleta on Thursday in connection with a kidnapping and robbery that took place a few hours earlier in Carpentry, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff.
Deputies were sent around 5:40 a.m. to the Chevron gas station in Via Real and the Santa Monica road in Carpinteria after a woman reported being abducted and robbed by three men, said Raquel Zick, the public intelligence officer of the sheriff.
“Deputies learned that an adult female victim was abducted and forcibly robbed by three suspects who fled in a vehicle before deputies arrived,” Zick said, adding that one of the suspects is believed to be armed.
The victim did not require medical attention and remained on the spot, Zick said.
About three hours later, an alert citizen who had learned of the robbery from the local media reported to the sheriff’s dispatchers that the suspicious vehicle, a gold sedan with a flat tire, was at a tire shop on block 200 in South Fairview Avenue, Zick. said.
Deputies 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 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 remanded in custody in Santa Barbara County on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy and kidnapping, Zick said.
Mullins was also reserved for charges of misdemeanor, including carrying a loaded firearm in a public place and carrying a concealed weapon.
The guarantee for each was set at $ 1 million.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all members of the community who have been watching these suspects,” Zick said. “We would also like to highlight the sound judgment 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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