News

Released: October 8, 2016 - Saturday, 08:19 PM

Vehicle Burglary / Felony Vandalism / Obstruct, Delay, Resist an Officer

Contact: Sgt. ScottoPhone: (805) 781-4553Date and time of incident: 10-08-2016 / 4:20PMPlace of Occurrence: Cave Landing Road / Avila Beach Drive - Pirates Cove Parking AreaVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: Matt James Allen / 43 years of Pismo BeachOn 10-08-2016 at 1620 hours, Sheriff's Dispatch received a 911 call from a male reporting party, who stated he had just seen a subject, described as a white male adult, average build, wearing Hawaiian style flowered board shorts, a black hat, with no shirt, smash the window of a vehicle and remove two bags from within. The subject then ran up Cave Landing Road toward the Pirate's Cove parking lot, using nearby bushes in an attempt to conceal his direction of travel.

Sheriff's deputies, including two Sheriff K-9 units, Harbor Patrol officers, a CHP officer and CHP fixed wing aircraft responded to the area and began a search of the area for the suspect. Sheriff's deputies with the assistance of Sheriff K9 handler, Deputy M. Souza and K9, "Gonzo," were able to track the suspect's direction of travel to the edge of a cliff over the ocean. An exhaustive search of this area by personnel on scene, lasting approximately 1-1/2 hours, resulted in the suspect being located in one of the small caves at the water's edge. Despite repeated orders for the suspect to stop, he still attempted to evade capture. Ultimately though, the suspect was contacted by Sheriff deputies and Harbor Patrol officers and taken into custody without incident. Witnesses at the scene positively identified the suspect as being responsible for breaking into one car and removing contents from within and the attempted burglary of another vehicle.

The suspect, who was positively identified as Matt James Allen, age 43 years of Pismo Beach, was subsequently taken to San Luis Obispo County Jail and booked on charges of felony vandalism, burglary and attempted burglary, and obstructing or delaying and officer.