Suspected Theft of Santa Barbara City Council Campaign Signs Leads to Possible Charges

On By Karl

A 43-year-old Santa Barbara resident has been identified as a potential suspect responsible for stealing Santa Barbara City Council election signs, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department.

On October 21, 2024, the Santa Barbara Police Department received a report of local City Council election signs being stolen. Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Kushner said a witness provided information that led to the resident being identified as a potential suspect.

The witness found about two dozen campaign signs.

The investigation was referred to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review of possible charges of burglary against 484 PC and possession of stolen property against 496 PC.

The Santa Barbara Police Department did not identify the suspect or any specific candidate’s stolen signs but confirmed the suspect is not in custody.

In a related story, the “Campaign to Re-Elect Alejandra Gutierrez” issued a press release stating that sign theft occurred again in Santa Barbara’s Eastside neighborhood last month.

Gutierrez is running to retain the current City Council member in District 1, representing the East Side. Wendy Santamaria and Cruzito Herrera Cruz challenge him.

The Gutierrez campaign stated that they ordered hundreds of yard signs and placed them within feet of their supporters, but received “daily phone calls, messages, and video evidence through Next Door” that the signs were being stolen and destroyed while another candidate’s signs were being hung. He was left alone.

In September, the campaign estimated that about 400 of 500 signs had been stolen; a theft of approximately $4,000.

“We welcome and celebrate democracy, debate and dialogue between neighbors on issues that concern us all. We believe in fair elections and embrace them wholeheartedly. Our campaign never tolerates such behavior. I hope everyone who supports other candidates does so without harming the homes and businesses that choose to support our re-election campaign. Let the best candidate win,” Alejandra Gutierrez said in a statement.

It is unclear at this time whether Gutierrez’s campaign accusations last month are connected to the police department’s report of political sign theft.

This is an evolving story.