Quiet Halloween weekend results in 2 arrests in Isla Vista
ISLA VISTA, Calif. – Two people were arrested and 20 people were cited during a quiet Halloween weekend in Isla Vista.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said this year's Halloween Operation resulted in an "uneventful" holiday weekend.
Most citations were issued between Friday and Saturday. A complete breakdown of arrests and citations can be found below:
| October 30, 2020 | October 31, 2020 | November 1, 2020 | |
| Arrests | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Citations | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Incident Reports | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Once a hotspot for underage drinking and overconsumption, Halloween in Isla Vista has seen its image slowly change with the implementation of new preventative actions and information campaigns.
In 2013, more than 200 people were arrested as crowds swelled with as many as 15,000 people partying in the streets. Since then, arrests and citations have taken a sharp decline with new restrictions on parking and encouragement to keep Halloween for "locals only."
This year, community leaders and UC Santa Barbara offered virtual alternatives to reduce large crowds, both to cut down on arrests and curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Aside from the obvious impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office credits the partnership with other local agencies to keep the peace during what was once a chaotic day on the calendar.
"Great credit is due to the large coalition of agencies and people that pulled together to plan, organize, educate and prepare for this weekend. We also want to recognize the students and other community residents who kept things local, responsible and safe. Our thanks to all for this very successful collaborative effort,” said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.
The sheriff's office said the majority of the citations issued over the weekend were for alcohol-related offenses. The two arrests were for public intoxication and driving under the influence, the sheriff's office said.
