Santa Barbara Man Under Arrest For Sexual Assault And Hate Crime
Santa Barbara police are investigating a sexual assault and possible hate crime involving 55-year-old Michael John Stinchfield. KEY News has confirmed that Stinchfield has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, attempted rape, sexual battery, false imprisonment, dissuading a victim and committing a hate crime.
Police say officers responded to a home along the 1700 block of Garden Street just before 5 a.m. on Friday. Officers say two women ran out of the home. They told police Stinchfield sexually assaulted them, beat them with a bat and held them captive.
Stinchfield is behind bars in the Santa Barbara County Jail without bail. Police have not released details on the hate crime charge. Neighbors on Garden Street say the Friday morning incident was the second time police were called to the suspect’s home this week. They say on Monday the first call to police came after neighbors reported hearing breaking glass and believe the suspect may have broken a window in his home.
In any event neighbors say this recent incident is tragic and they’re concerned about their troubled neighbor.
Stinchfield was arrested back in September after leading the CHP on a high speed televised chase. The chase started in Ventura County near Faria Beach, when Stinchfield refused to pull over after speeding and weaving on the freeway. The chase extended more than 50 miles and reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.
Officers caught up with Stinchfield in Hollywood and arrested him. Stinchfield is in the process of opening a local restaurant called the Santa Barbara Bar and Grill on lower State Street.
