– by F. Scott Faulkner
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA — August 29, 2025 — A pair of bright orange wrestling shoes helped detectives pin down the man they say broke into a local cannabis farm and made off with tens of thousands of dollars in goods, including 30 pounds of marijuana and a utility terrain vehicle.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Raquel Zick, the burglary happened sometime before July 19th, when deputies were first called to the farm “following reports of a break-in.” The ensuing investigation indicated that “grow lighting equipment, a generator, cannabis product, and a UTV” had all been stolen.
Surveillance footage from the property proved to be the key break in the case. It showed the suspect sporting vivid orange wrestling shoes—an uncommon choice that deputies instantly recognized.
After sharing the footage with patrol teams, detectives identified the man as 58-year-old David Stephens of Carpinteria, “known to law enforcement from previous encounters.”
On the morning of August 25th, detectives located Stephens in downtown Santa Barbara and took him into custody “without incident.” At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of burglary tools and a stolen bicycle linked to a separate theft in Isla Vista.
Stephens was booked into the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on charges including burglary, grand theft, vandalism, and possession of burglary tools with his bail set at $502,500.
