Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man who they say threatened to shoot people at an Isla Vista restaurant on New Year’s Day.
Deputies were reportedly called to the restaurant in the 900 block of Embarcadero Del Mar at about 8:10 p.m. Sheriff’s officials say after being asked to leave the restaurant because he was too drunk, the suspect brandished a firearm then ran off into Anisq’Oyo Park.
After a short chase, sheriff’s officials say deputies arrested Anthony Rios, 24, of Isla Vista.
They say a black backpack containing a magazine with two rounds of ammunition was found in a trash can nearby and a handgun was also found near the dumpster.
Rios was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of possession of a pistol with an altered or destroyed serial number, criminal threats, brandishing a firearm in a threatening manner and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Rios is reportedly out on bail. Sheriff’s officials say he does not have any firearms registered to him, so it’s unknown at this time how he came into possession of the handgun.\
