Suspect Scales Santa Barbara Jail Fence While Fleeing Federal Immigration Agents
– By F. Scott Faulkner
SANTA BARBARA, CA – March 29th 2026 — A man fleeing federal immigration agents ended up injured inside the secured perimeter of Santa
Barbara County’s Main Jail after hastily scaling a fence on the morning of March 27.
Jhonathan Cosme Antonio, 25, of Carpinteria, attempted to evade ICE agents, and “jumped a fence along the east side of the jail
complex.”
In the process of clambering over a chain link barrier, he suffered injuries and came to
rest inside a restricted exterior area of the facility.
A sheriff’s deputy spotted an ICE vehicle blocking the entrance to Sheriff’s Headquarters. The driver told the deputy he was with Immigration and
Customs Enforcement and “said a suspect had just fled on foot” and had escaped over the jail’s
perimeter fence.
Deputies then searched the grounds and soon found Antonio hiding between storage
containers within the fenced perimeter.
He appeared hurt, prompting deputies to make a request for fire and medical personnel. Upon their arrival at the scene, Cosme Antonio was transported
to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where his injuries were diagnosed as “not life-threatening.”
After receiving medical treatment, Antonio was cited for trespassing in connection with
entering the restricted jail grounds; he was not remanded to the custody of ICE personnel at that
time.
