Deputies search for third suspect in attempted robbery at Carpinteria Valley marijuana farm

—UPDATE—

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office has released the identities of the two suspects arrested for an attempted robbery on August 19 at a marijuana cultivation facility near Carpinteria. The Sheriff’s Office says a third suspect is still outstanding.

The two suspects arrested have been identified as 31-year old Tyrone Taylor of Lancaster and 45-year old Henry Jernigan of Los Angeles.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Taylor and Jernigan were also involved in the June 9 armed robbery at the same marijuana facility. In that case, four suspects held the security guard at gunpoint before fleeing with stolen property.

Taylor has been booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of possession of burglary tools, attempted robbery, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Jernigan was also booked on charges of attempted robbery, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, vandalism, possession of tear gas, use of teargas and possession of a dagger.

Both suspects were also re-booked for the June 9 case on charges of kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Bail has been set at more than one million dollars each.

The Sheriff’s Office says a third suspect is still outstanding.

If you have any information that would assist investigators, please call the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at 805-681-4150. To leave an Anonymous Tip, please call 805-681-4171 or click here.

—ORIGINAL STORY—

Two people were arrested Wednesday morning following an attempted robbery at a marijuana cultivation facility near Carpinteria.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies were called out to 1530 Casitas Pass Road just before 6:30 a.m. This is just outside of the city limits.

Employees at the cultivation facility told deputies that a group of people had “broken into the grounds and sprayed one of the employees with pepper spray,” said the Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say the suspects drove away in a white U-Haul van with Arizona license plates. Deputies and California Highway Patrol officers eventually located the U-Haul van heading southbound on U.S. Highway 101. The vehicle was pulled over in the area near the Victoria Avenue in Ventura and its two occupants, later identified from the Los Angeles area, were arrested.

Authorities recovered pepper spray from inside the van during a vehicle search.

“At this point, we don’t know if these are the same suspects that committed a crime back in June. But it was serious in nature, and they fled. They held a security guard at gunpoint, “said Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover.

Sheriff’s investigators believe more suspects were involved in the attempted robbery. The Sheriff’s Office says it will not be releasing more details in the case at this time citing an ongoing investigation.

Still, neighbors are worried.

“I think all of us along here would be threatened if you had somebody running from the law they are going to get into the first place they are going to get in. I don’t know which that would be, but I am sure they can get into any place they want if they wanted to,” said Roberta Germanetti, a 50-year resident who lives across the street.

She remembers the street nearby with fewer cars, and the ranches mainly producing flowers and avocados.

“You think you are living in a quiet neighborhood and suddenly you are hearing armed bandits, and it is actually across the street from me, and I don’t like it,” she said.

The Sheriff’s department says it is also very concerned. “We definitely care about how the citizens feel in Carpinteria. It is not easy to have a business like this (nearby) that is being targeted where you have suspects coming from Los Angeles County,” said Hoover.

Some residents say they are going to bring their complaints back to the City Council in Carpinteria and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.