Santa Barbara Deltopia Party Turns Into “Project X” Type Riot

Jared Borislow11 years ago

The residents of the Isla Vista neighborhood in Santa Barbara, Calif., will say sorry for the destruction they caused this past Saturday, but they won’t take off their glasses.

What began as an unlawful assembly during a spring break party Saturday night in Santa Barbara quickly became an emergency situation, leaving multiple sheriff’s deputies injured, more than 100 arrested and many transported to the hospital, according to authorities.

Around 15,000 people attended Deltopia, a spring break party in Isla Vista, near the University of California, Santa Barbara campus, according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office news release.

When I first heard about this party, I got really pissed off. It was nothing personal; Deltopia sounds like Fruitopia, and whenever I remember the McDonald’s by my house doesn’t have Fruitopia anymore, I get pretty steamed. As far as the party and subsequent riot go, these people look pretty crazy.

A major disturbance broke out in the 6700 block of Del Playa Drive when a UCSB police officer was hit in the head with a backpack containing large bottles of alcohol, the release stated.

“It knocked him down, split his forehead open to the point that he needed extensive suturing,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told KTLA.

Yikes. Also, backpacking your alcohol? What are you, a freshman? Act the age on your fake ID, nerd.

At least five sheriff’s deputies were injured, more than 100 people arrested and at least 44 people were transported to the hospital throughout the course of the day and evening, according to the release.

Crazy shit. I wish for a swift recovery for all law enforcement personnel. And also for the other injured people, I guess. And also for Fruitopia.

[via KTLA]