By F. Scott Faulkner
EL CAPITAN, CA — May 17, 2025
Late on the afternoon of May 14, Santa Barbara County Sherriff’s Department patrol deputies
were alerted to reports of a man behaving erratically in the El Capitan area north of the city of
Goleta.
Responding deputies engaged with California State Parks officers and promptly
responded to the scene.
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Raquel Zick, the suspect, later identified as
Simon Khalili, 40, of Woodland Hills, “attempted to flee in his vehicle but got stuck on a dirt
access road before running into the canyon on foot.”
Deputies briefly pursued Khalili, but soon halted their pursuit due to the ”dangerous terrain,”
and within minutes, flames were spotted in the brush near where Khalili had fled.
At that point, deputies were informed that their prey may have been “armed with a sword.”
With the fire gaining ground and the suspect still at large, deputies coordinated with County Fire
and Air Support to safely attack the blaze.
Deputies implemented a “force protection” plan—escorting firefighters into the area while maintaining tactical coverage in case Khalili
posed a threat. Air crews made two water drops to slow the fire’s spread.
A Sheriff’s K9 team joined the search, and Air Support maintained surveillance from above. At
approximately 7:30 p.m., Khalili surrendered without further incident. By then, Santa Barbara
County Fire Department crews had stopped the fire’s forward progress, containing it to
approximately 1.1 acres.
Khalili was turned over to State Parks officers and later booked into the Santa Barbara County
Main Jail.
He faces a felony arson charge, along with misdemeanors including trespassing,
brandishing a weapon, and negligent fire setting. He remains in custody, with his bail set at
$75,000.
