Loma Alta Kidnap-Robbery Suspect Arrested

On April 13, 2022, around noon, the Santa Barbara Police Department received a report of a possible kidnapping and robbery that occurred in the area of Loma Alta Drive. The victim reported an unknown male had stolen her cellular phone and dragged her by her neck for approximately 100 yards. The victim described the area where this incident occurred, and told Officers it was near a transient campsite located on private property on the hillside of Loma Alta Drive.

The victim was able to capture several photos of the suspect after the suspect threw the phone back at her, and presented the photographs to Officers. One of the Officers immediately recognized the suspect as Andre Mark Thomas, a 31-year-old transient. Thomas had arrested on April 8, 2022, for two unrelated misdemeanor warrants. Thomas was in jail for approximately 4 days and was released just prior to this attack occurring.

Officers were able to establish probable cause to arrest Thomas and conducted an extensive search immediately after the incident, but were unsuccessful in locating him.

Later that evening, Officers returned to the area where Thomas’ campsite was located in an attempt to question him. On April 14, 2022, just after midnight, Officers located Thomas in the 400 block of Loma Alta Drive and arrested him for Felony Kidnapping and Robbery. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.

The victim suffered minor injuries during this robbery.