Chaos as college coeds strip down for Deltopia… with Santa Barbara police reporting at least 60 arrests
Thousands of college students and other young people rung in the annual Deltopia celebration in Isla Vista over the weekend – living up to The University of California, Santa Barbara’s ‘party school’ reputation in the process.
A litany of alleged offenses and medical emergencies quickly ensued – with The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office so far reporting 60 arrests.
That’s just since Deltopia started on Saturday, where, by noon, 19 revelers were said to be receiving treatment for various medical emergencies.
The arrests, meanwhile, for the most part stemmed from violations pertaining to drinking, large gatherings, and weapons.
The latter was confirmed with a photo of a confiscated handgun posted to the sheriff’s official X account, after officers arrested a man who had been his way to the celebration shortly before.
The unnamed suspect was subsequently cuffed on charges of possessing a loaded firearm, just before 11am.
Festivities went on to resume Sunday as if nothing ever happened, with scantily clad students leading the charge.
The infamous, city-wide celebration is held each year to mark the start of UC Santa Barbara’s spring semester, and it historically has spawned unrest.
Thousands of college students and other young people rung in the annual Deltopia celebration in Isla Vista over the weekend – living up to The University of California, Santa Barbara’s ‘party school’ reputation in the process
The local beaches were closed to public during the 2025 Deltopia
Seemingly in anticipation of such behavior, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued real-time updates about the festival – and how it was handling more rowdy participants on Saturday.
‘First two arrests of the day at 9:20am for obstruction and contributing alcohol to a minor,’ the account wrote in its first arrest rundown, doing so over a snap of two cuffed suspects.
‘We would like to encourage folks to stay safe and follow the law,’ the office went on.
‘At 10:54 am, a suspect who was on his way to Deltopia was arrested for possession of a loaded firearm,’ it added.
A little over an hour later, the office revealed: ’19 patients were treated for medical emergencies.’
Later on, still hours from sundown, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Public Information Officer wrote how that had been ‘over 60 arrests [as of] 3:30 pm on Saturday.
Violations included being drunk in public, obstruction, festival ordinance, and the one weapons violation, officers noted.
The latter, they specified, stemmed from a gun that had been loaded at the time of the suspect’s arrest.
That’s just since Deltopia started on Saturday, where, by noon, 19 revelers were said to be receiving treatment for medical emergencies, one of which can be seen here
The arrests, meanwhile, for the most part stemmed from violations pertaining to drinking, large gatherings, and weapons. Pictured, a man being led away in handcuffs during the festival
Pictured, a drunken reveler is being carted off by his friends at the festival, which is held each year to mark the start of UC Santa Barbara’s spring semester
‘First two arrests of the day at 9:20 am for obstruction and contributing alcohol to a minor,’ Santa Barbara cop wrote in a rundown of their first Deltopia arrests, these two cuffed suspects
Another pair are seen being arrested here, just hours into the festival’s second day. Another arrest took place on Friday, cops said – with suspect cuffed for public intoxication and obstruction
Meanwhile, Deltopia weekend – as it’s often stylized – is only two-thirds finished, with statistics surrounding Sunday’s festivities still set to be released
To curb overcrowding and unauthorized access, UCSB’s Transportation and Parking Services will prohibit overnight visitor parking until Monday, after the festival’s conclusion
Violations included being drunk in public, obstruction, festival ordinance, and the one weapons violation, officers noted this time around
The latter, they specified, stemmed from a loaded gun recovered during one suspect’s arrest
As it stands, this year’s festivities already appears historic when it comes to crimes, with last year’s version only seeing 32 participants arrested – all for relatively minor misdemeanors
Deltopia weekend – as it’s often stylized – is only about two-thirds finished, with statistics surrounding Sunday’s festivities still set to be released
Another arrest took place on Friday, cops said – with that suspect cuffed for public intoxication and obstruction
Meanwhile, Deltopia weekend – as it’s often stylized – is only about two-thirds finished, with statistics surrounding Sunday’s festivities still set to be released.
As it stands, this year’s festivities already appears historic when it comes to crimes, with last year’s version only seeing 32 participants arrested – all for relatively minor misdemeanors.
That said, some 256 citations were also issued – many for public urination and other unseemly violations.
Another arrest took place on Friday, cops said – with that suspect cuffed for public intoxication and obstruction.
To curb overcrowding and unauthorized access, UCSB’s Transportation and Parking Services will prohibit overnight visitor parking until Monday, after the festival’s conclusion.
