Carpinteria Residents on Alert With Armed Suspects on the Run

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) - Residents in Carpinteria are asked to be on alert for anything suspicious that may be connected to a major crime scene and car crash in the early morning hours.

There were several locations under investigation for hours following an early morning robbery, including farm fields and a cannabis growing site.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department says patrol units are still in the area seeking armed suspects. A message via X on line says:

Shelter in place and request to avoid the area has been lifted, however additional suspects remain outstanding and should be considered armed. Community members are encouraged to call 911 if they see anyone suspicious. Deputies will remain in the area.

It has no further details about the incident.

A search involved a Sheriff's helicopter, a drone unit, a K9 and multiple Sheriff's deputies, detectives and CHP officers took place before dawn this morning. One of the main areas is along Foothill Road around Cravens Lane, Via Real and Santa Monica Road.

Beth Cauwels a Carpnteria resident heard the helicopter early in the morning and later in the day while having coffee downtown said, "I am surprised it hasn't happened before ." Other residents in the area did recall crimes in and around the cannabis farms over the years the industry has been growing. "It is unusual  for the kind of response   so I knew  something bad was going on," said Cauwels.

Cannabis is grown on county property and not within the city.

Louis Palafoutas is a Carpinteria resident who said "it doesn't surprise me it seems it is the risk they are willing to take and it is a product that attracts that kind of attention."

One resident lives behind the farms and has had an intruder into his yard. Army veteran Matthew  Nancarrow said, "we did an individual on the run come into our yard a few years back. He literally climbed right into our back yard" With this alert and all the commotion, "we definitely got up and made sure the doors were locked because we are right up against a pot farm. We didn't known at the time it armed suspects."

He did note that many of the farms have big gates and cameras along with upgraded security.
"A gate is only going to keep an honest man honest.. If you are a thief you are going to do what you are going to do and obviously they did," said Nancarrow. 

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