Second suspect arrested in Olive St. killing
Santa Barbara Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with a lengthy investigation into the death of Kelly Hunt of Ventura last February on Olive St.
Isaac Jimenez, also a Ventura resident, was caught in Longview, Washington as he left an apartment that was surrounded by local officers, and a detective from the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Sources say Jimenez tried to run at the scene before he was caught and handcuffed.
Authorities also say they originally spoke with Jimenez after the killing but did not have enough evidence to arrest him at the time.
He is the second person arrested this week in connection with the shooting death of Hunt six months ago.
Yesterday morning two SWAT teams raided homes on Cook Ave. and Cooper Road in Santa Barbara. Joseph Castro was arrested in the Cook Ave. home and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal street gang. His bail was set at $1. 1 million.
Jimenez will be brought back to Santa Barbara to face similar charges, following an extradition process.
Santa Barbara Police released this information earlier today:
UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE
Second Arrest in Olive Street Murder Investigation
SANTA BARBARA, CA – August 14, 2013
Issac Efren Jimenez, age 23, of Ventura, was arrested in Washington State for the murder of Kelly Mitchell Hunt. This follows the arrest of Joseph Michael Castro in Santa Barbara for the same crime. Hunt was shot to death on February 19, 2013 on the 1000 block of Olive Street.
On August 13, 2013 at approximately 2:00 p.m. in Longview, Washington, personnel from the Longview Police Department, assisted by detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department, arrested Jimenez when he exited the apartment where he had been residing. His apartment was subsequently searched. SBPD detectives had obtained a $1,100,000.00 arrest warrant for Jimenez for the crimes of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and participation in a criminal street gang. Jimenez is an associate of the same Santa Barbara area gang of which Castro is a member. In the early stages of this investigation, nine days after the crime, Jimenez was interviewed and photographed by SBPD detectives. Shortly thereafter he left the Santa Barbara area. Attached are photos taken of Jimenez on February 28, 2013 and following his arrest on August 13, 2013 (bearded).
Castro and Jimenez are considered the primary suspects in the conspiracy to murder and murder of Kelly Hunt. There are, however, additional suspects in this case and due to the ongoing nature of this investigation additional details are being withheld. Jimenez is currently in custody in Cowlitz County, Washington, and the process to extradite him to Santa Barbara County is underway.
The members of the Santa Barbara Police Department gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by the Longview Police Department and the Camarillo, California, and Vancouver, Washington, offices of the FBI in this case.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – August 13, 2013
Joseph Michael Castro, age 20, of Santa Barbara, was arrested for the murder of Kelly Mitchell Hunt. Hunt was shot to death on February 19, 2013 on the 1000 block of Olive Street.
On August 13, 2013 at approximately 5:00 a.m., SWAT teams from the Santa Barbara Police Department and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office served two high-risk gang search warrants at residences on the 700 block of Cook Avenue and the 300 block of Cooper Road. The search of the Cook Avenue location also resulted in the arrest of Castro, aka Grumps, who is a Santa Barbara area gang member.
The Santa Barbara Police Department is currently searching for additional suspects in this case. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation additional details are being withheld. Castro is currently at the SBPD station; he will be booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for the crimes of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and participation in a criminal street gang with a bail amount of $1,100,000.00.
