By F. Scott Faulkner
December 8, 2025 – Santa Barbara, CA
Law enforcement responded to a call of “throwing items at vehicles” that ended with the arrest Chelsea Haffeman, 37, a
Santa Barbara resident now facing charges of assault, criminal threats and vandalism.
According to SBPD spokesman Cmdr. Christopher Payne, officers arrived on the scene around
12:55 p.m. and spotted Haffeman walking away from the area, “gripping a belt in each hand
which were brandished at officers.”
A “conducted-energy device” was deployed, but it was ineffective, at which point Haffeman then
retreated into her nearby home and refused to come out.
As officers pieced together what had unfolded, investigators learned she had allegedly threatened to harm another person before the
vandalism report surfaced.
With an arrest warrant secured, officers returned to the residence around 6:30 p.m. and took
Haffeman into custody “without further incident.”
She was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where she was booked on suspicion of assault
likely to cause great bodily injury, criminal threats and vandalism.
