Goleta, Calif. – On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at around 5:51 AM, deputies responded to an incident at the Best Western South Coast in the 5600-block of Calle Real in the city of Goleta, launching an investigation into an attempted homicide and assault with intent to rape. The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Michael Nolan Medina, hailing from Port Hueneme, California.

At approximately 3:30 PM, employing assistance from the Air Support Unit, deputies successfully located Medina in the vicinity of Del Norte Drive and Glenn Annie Road in Goleta. Medina was apprehended without incident and subsequently booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of attempted homicide, assault with intent to rape, false imprisonment, and criminal threats. His bail has been set at $1,000,000.00.

The investigation remains ongoing, and, regrettably, no further details can be disclosed at this time.

The Air Support Unit is a partnership between the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.  Together our agencies provide staffing to this all-hazard unit that responds to a variety of missions, including aerial firefighting, law enforcement calls, medical response and evacuation, and search and rescue. The unit is staffed 365 days a year with highly trained firefighters, deputy sheriffs and professional pilots, and responds to emergencies within all jurisdictions in Santa Barbara County.