by F. Scott Faulkner
November 5, 2025 – Santa Barbara, CA
In the quiet, predawn hours of Oct. 18, 22-year-old Santa Barbara resident Eduardo Gallardo-
Arizmendi allegedly slipped through an unlocked door at a home and sexually assaulted an adult
inside before vanishing into the dark.
A 911 Emergency call from the victim brought Santa Barbara Police Department patrol units to
the scene. Officers quickly searched the surrounding neighborhood, but found no one.
The SBPD investigation led them to identify Gallardo-Arizmendi as the suspected intruder.
According to SBPD spokesman Sgt. Jarrod Foote, “evidence tied him to a robbery reported a week later” that had
taken place on October 25th at a downtown Santa Barbara retail business.
On Oct. 30, officers located Gallardo-Arizmendi and took him into custody without incident.
He was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of assault
with intent to commit rape, burglary and false imprisonment.
Following those initial charges, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed more
felony charges, including assault with intent to commit rape, first-degree burglary, forcible oral
copulation, oral copulation of an unconscious person and enhancements alleging he violated
probation.
Gallardo-Arizmendi remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
