Photo: Donald Lowe
Santa Barbara – On June 29th someone violently attacked and stabbed a 29-year-old transient in the stomach at a Goleta homeless encampment.
As a result, the ensuing investigation by SBCSD detectives led to the identification of 57-year-old Lompoc resident Donald Lowe.
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, Lowe and his victim “were acquaintances living at the homeless encampment.” Reportedly, the altercation between the two men was the result of a dispute over personal property.
Detectives then tracked down Lowe at a downtown Santa Barbara area frequented by the local transient population.
Consequently, at that time he was in possession of –
- approximately 23 grams of methamphetamine;
- one gram of black tar heroin; and
- a somewhat smaller amount of brown heroin.
In addition, accompanying Lowe were three additional individuals –
- 30-year-old Ventura resident Andrea Mertynuik was determined to be in violation of probation terms and the subject of multiple outstanding arrest warrants. She was arrested with her bail set at $5,000;
- 35-year-old Carpinteria resident Lindsay Liburn (probation violation), and
- 41-year-old Santa Barbara resident Sean Lynnn (violation of his parole). Both Liburn and Lynn are now in custody, held without bail.
Finally, authorities arrested and transported Lowe to Santa Barbara County Jail. His charges are assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury and his bail set at $350,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
