Thousands swarm Isla Vista for annual street party called Deltopia

UPDATE [4/8/2018 at 2:30 p.m.]

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released preliminary numbers related to the unsanctioned Spring Break party known as Deltopia. The crowd on April 7 at the height of attendance was reported to be approximately 10,000 people. That is an increased compared to last year which was reported to be between 6,000 to 8,000 people. This year’s attendance is still lower than in 2014 when attendance was reported to be between 20,000 to 25,000 people.

Here are the preliminary 2018 numbers for citations, arrests, and medical transports include both the Sheriff’s Office and University of California Police Department statics for Isla Vista and the UCSB campus through April 8. Those arrested and cited were a mixture of locals and out of towners. An exact breakdown is not available yet.

The Sheriff reports that while the number of arrests and citations were lower than in 2017, the number of medical transports were significantly higher. All 24 of the medical transports were due to alcohol and drug consumption. One case required paramedics to utilize Narcan on a subject suffering from an opioid-related overdose.

There were also two incidents were authorities confiscated handguns.

One incident included 23-year-old Briton Barge of Isla Vista brandishing his firearm, a .40 caliber pistol, at two victims while he was searching for his property. The firearm and ammunition were confiscated. Barge was arrested without incident.

The second incident occurred when deputies stopped a vehicle for faulty lighting equipment. The driver, 24-year old Tristian Gilford of Santa Maria, was found to have a .25 caliber pistol concealed between his driver’s seat and the center console. Gilford was arrested for multiple violations including carrying a concealed firearm in his vehicle, driving on a suspended license, and having an open container of alcohol and an open container of marijuana in his car.

Sheriff deputies and UCPD Police Officers broke up several large parties and responded to a number of altercations. Earlier in the day on April 7, a partygoer fell off a balcony on the 6800 block of Del Playa but did not suffer serious injuries.

Sheriff’s say the crowds dwindled after the Outdoor Festival Ordnance went into effect at 6 p.m. and then dissipated when thousands of students left Isla Vista to attend a UCSB sponsored concert at the Thunderdome.

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The annual Spring Break street party called Deltopia is happening this weekend in Isla Vista.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office estimated that 7,000 people were in attendance by late Saturday afternoon.

“We have greatly reduced the number of deputies and police officers because we don’t need as many people,” said Sheriff Bill Brown referring to improvements made after the 2014 riot and subsequent years when crowds were smaller and less violent.

Local law enforcement agencies, Santa Barbara County, the City of Goleta and UC Santa Barbara joined together after the riot to put regulations and policies in place for the annual party, including parking restrictions, noise enforcement and a “locals only” message.

The Associated Students organization will also host its fourth annual “The Warm Up,” concert at the Thunderdome Saturday night for UCSB students only.

As of Saturday afternoon, officials said the party was “under control, but not problem free.”

There were dozens of arrests and citations issued. Officers broke up several fights and shut down loud parties.

Preliminary arrest and citation numbers will be available on Sunday.