Full Notification

At approximately 11:00 pm, on April 7, 2019, a UCSB Police Sergeant noticed a vehicle driving without lights in Isla Vista in the 6700 block of Sabado Tarde. The Sergeant conducted a traffic enforcement stop and noticed the vehicle had two occupants. The driver did not have any identification and the vehicle had a strong odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle.

A Sheriff’s Sergeant and Deputy arrived on scene to assist. The Sheriff’s Sergeant recognized the vehicle associated with a robbery in Santa Barbara City the night prior where a firearm was used. When deputies searched the vehicle, they located a brick of cocaine, approximately five pounds of marijuana with packaging, Xanax pills and a firearm.

While at the scene of the traffic stop, two victims approached Sheriff’s deputies to report that they had just been robbed in Isla Vista. One of the victims had been pistol whipped on his head and had a large laceration over his eye that was bleeding. The investigation revealed the suspects in that crime were the same suspects involved in the vehicle stop.

The driver of the of the vehicle was identified as being 20-year-old Elijah Francis from Santa Cruz.and the passenger was identified as being 18-year-old Devosia Harper of Stockton. The two indicated that they were in town for Deltopia, an unsanctioned spring break party in Isla Vista.

The Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) responded and took custody of the suspects and the vehicle. The suspects were later booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges from both the Sheriff’s Office and SBPD.

The Sheriff’s Office charges for both Francis and Harper include robbery, attempted robbery, conspiracy, possession of a loaded firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Harper is also booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

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