Santa Ynez woman arrested for allegedly striking neighbor with her truck

A Santa Ynez woman was arrested after she allegedly hit her neighbor with her car.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, deputies received a phone call on the evening of March 24 from a man who claimed he was the victim of a hit and run. The victim claimed one his neighbors, 57-year-old Julia Di Sieno followed him in her truck from her home on Carriage Drive to the El Rancho Market.

After the victim exited his vehicle, Di Sieno allegedly drove her truck toward him, striking on the shoulder with the side mirror of her truck. Di Sieno then fled the scene.

KCOY 12 spoke with the Animal Rescue founder on Monday. She denied the claims.

“Jay Bardessono claims my truck ran him down or hit him in the shoulder,” Di Sieno said. “But as you can see my car is pretty dirty…and there’s no evidence of no impact here.”

However, during an investigation, video evidence and witness statements backed up the victim’s account of what happened. The victim was not injured and declined any medical treatment. KCOY 12 also reached out to the victim, but he declined to comment.

Deputies arrested Di Sieno as she was leaving her home Sunday morning. She was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail and has been charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with bail set at $30,000.

She posted bail later that day.