SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A Santa Barbara man has been arrested for allegedly beating another man up over a broken necklace.
22-year-old Ryan Tefft was arrested for battery resulting in bodily injury, which is considered a felony.
Officers responded to a battery call early Saturday morning on Haley Street and Fig Avenue. Officers immediately located Tefft. who had blood on his shirt, hands, and shoes.
After investigating, officers say just prior to the incident, Tefft and a companion were preparing to smoke marijuana on State Street. Tefft noticed the victim, a 26-year old Santa Barbara resident, across the street urinating on Chapala Street and called out to him. The victim came over, then fell on the ground. He then grabbed Tefft's chest and grasped his silver necklace, that was given to Tefft by his deceased father. He managed to break it, which police say caused Tefft to grow violent towards the victim, allegedly punching and kicking the victim and leaving him unconscious on the ground.
The victim was taken to Cottage Hospital and sustained a large laceration to his forehead. He declined to make a statement about the incident.
Meantime, Tefft was booked at Santa Barbara County Jail on $50,000 dollars bail.
