Santa Barbara Pursuit Suspect Has Priors

Legal documents and social media paint a checkered portrait of a troubled man involved in Monday’s high speed police pursuit in downtown Santa Barbara.

According to a felony complaint, Evan Githens has priors including two felonies dating back to 2007, one of which requires him to register as a sex offender.

His public Facebook page shows Githens is from Jerusalem but lives in Santa Barbara.

Monday’s pursuit ended after Githens crashed into three cars on De la Vina Street. He took off running, leaving his three passengers behind — two young brothers and their babysitter. The older brother, a 6-year-old, was hurt in the crash.

“This suspect had such a disregard for the children,” said Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover. “Not only to drive so recklessly in a stolen car, but then also, once the car crashed, he had complete lack of concern for the children and took off running.”

Detectives say the babysitter and Githens know each other and they do not believe she was forced into the stolen truck with the children, against her will.

The defendant is being held on $100,000 and is expected back in court October 15 for a prelim setting.