News

Released: April 9, 2024 - Tuesday, 05:21 PM

Reckless Driving, Evading Arrest, Resisting Arrest

Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 4-9-2024, Approximately 11:45 AMPlace of Occurrence: West Main Street and Simas Road, Guadalupe, CAVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: Jacob Epifanio Lopez, 43, Grover BeachOn 4-9-2024, Deputies were initially dispatched to a fight in Oceano. While enroute, witnesses reported one of the men involved in the fight got into a vehicle and left the scene.
Deputies caught up to the suspect's vehicle which was driving erratically on Highway 1 and at times was driving on the wrong side of the road. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle in Oceano, but the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.
The Sheriff's Office coordinated with the CHP to deploy a spike strip near Guadalupe. As a result of the spike strip the vehicle was disabled near West Main Street and Simas Road.
The suspect ignored repeated commands to exit the vehicle. The Sheriff's Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded and spoke with the suspect for more than an hour but he still refused to leave the vehicle.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office arrived on scene to assist.
Deputies decided to utilize less lethal force to remove the suspect and deployed pepper balls into the vehicle. As a result the suspect exited the vehicle and was arrested.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Jacob Epifanio Lopez of Grover Beach. He was arrested for reckless driving, failure to yield to law enforcement, evading arrest, and resisting arrest.