Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team arrests wanted felon

A wanted felon and an acquaintance are behind bars after being taken into custody by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team in Lompoc.

For months, law enforcement had been searching for 42-year-old Lompoc resident Joshua Warren. He had recently served a prison conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

It wasn’t until April 19 when Compliance Response Team members spotted Warren arriving at a residence in the 800 block of W. Apricot Street in the City of Lompoc. A superior Court Judge issued a search warrant and law enforcement was able to arrest Warren without incident at about 8:45 p.m.

Authorities also took 26-year-old Jose Morales, who was at the same residence at the time of Warren’s arrest, for violating the terms of his Community Supervision for assault with a deadly weapon, the Sheriff’s Office said. It’s unclear what relation Morales and Warren have.

The Sheriff’s Office said the Special Enforcement Team was used “based on Warren’s substantial criminal history, which included firearm possession and crimes of violence.”

If there are any unreported incident involving Warren, the Sheriff’s Office asks residents to call the Compliance Response Team at CRTinfo@sbsheriff.org or leave an anonymous tip at 805-681-4171.