Deputies search for Santa Barbara man who fled BMW after hitting Goleta Police SUV

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for a 40-year-old Santa Barbara man with a felony warrant who fled from a black BMW after hitting the front of a Goleta Police SUV.

The initial call for the incident came just after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday in the area of South Patterson and Overpass Road in Goleta, according to the SBCSO.

As of 9:00 p.m., the man's car was towed from a footpath he took before fleeing on foot and the suspect remains outstanding.

The SBCSO is receiving help from County Air Support, the CHP and UC Santa Barbara's Police Department and K-9.

"Be on the lookout for Anthony Torres Lopez Jr.," said SBCSO Public Information Officer Raquel Zick, "He is a 40-year-old male from Santa Barbara, he is about 6' 1" he has black hair, he shed clothing as he ran so we are not entirely sure what his description is right now, we want to encourage anyone sees him or that knows his current whereabouts to call 9-1-1."

A neighbor, picking up mail near Patterson Place, could hear the helicopter overhead.

"I went out to get the mail and what do we got here about 12 cop cars all over the place, apparently somebody jumped out of his car from over there and obviously they are running to find him, but behind here there is a lot of tricky terrain and you can do a lot of hiding back there, "said Robert Piata.

"The call began where deputies came to check on suspicious circumstances and the subject backed into their vehicle and then drove along this path here, this pedestrian path and eventually his car became disabled when he hit a curb there and he fled on foot," said Zick.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911 if they know his location.

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