Suspect Arrested for Attempt Murder with Vehicle on the Mesa

On August 6, 2021, around 7:40pm, Officers responded to the 300 block of Meigs Road to a report of a vehicle that had just driven through the storefront of a local laundromat. It appeared a subject driving a vehicle intentionally tried to strike a victim standing to the front with his truck.

Multiple Officers responded, along with Santa Barbara City Firefighters, and Paramedics. The investigation revealed the suspect driver and the victim had a strained acquaintanceship from past contacts. The suspect driver, Patrick M. Tobin, a 51-year-old Santa Barbara resident, observed the victim standing to the front of the laundromat. Unprovoked, Tobin drove his pick-up truck intentionally toward the victim striking him and propelling him about 20 feet through the large front glass windows.

Tobin then reversed his truck out of the now destroyed business front and fled the scene. Community members observed this incident and gave chase on foot. Tobin pulled his truck into an adjacent restaurant’s parking lot and was confronted by the witnessing community members. Tobin then drove towards one of the Good Samaritans with his truck but fortunately only struck a large concrete pillar. Santa Barbara City Fire Department arrived on scene quickly due to the proximity of their Fire Station. Fire Department personnel assisted the community members in detaining Tobin until Santa Barbara Police arrived.

Tobin was arrested on scene without further incident and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked for Attempted Murder (felony), and Assault with a Deadly Weapon (felony). He is being held on $500,000 bail. Tobin’s vehicle was impounded at the scene.

The victim was transported to Cottage Hospital by ambulance with only minor to moderate injuries.