Public assistance needed to locate domestic battery suspect

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is requesting public assistance to help locate 24-year old Nicholas Jay Castillo who is suspected of felony domestic battery and elder abuse.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, Castillo went to his former girlfriend’s house in the 4700 block Chandler Street, which is in the unincorporated area between the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, early Monday morning.

Castillo allegedly forced his way into the residence and then violently attacked his former girlfriend. While assaulting his former girlfriend, Castillo also allegedly assaulted a 76-year old female housemate that was at the house at the time. Both victims sustained multiple injuries during the attack. Castillo fled the residence after the attack, but the crime was not reported until later that day.

The Sheriff’s Department says Castillo faces some criminal charges including burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, and elder abuse.

The Sheriff’s Department says Castillo is a local mixed martial arts instructor and has ties to Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles.

If you have any information about Castillo’s whereabouts, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 805-683-2724.

To leave an anonymous tip, please call the tip line at 805-681-4171, or you can also leave an anonymous tip on our website: Sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/