Third Lompoc police officer arrested this year

October 21, 2014

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Lompoc police officer accused of assaulting his girlfriend on Sunday, marking the third arrest of a member of the Lompoc Police Department this year. [KEYT]

Deputies responded to call from a neighbor about a domestic dispute at a Vandenberg Village home Sunday morning. The deputies arrested 29-year-old Lompoc police detective Matthew Hill and charged him with assault.

Hill, a five-year veteran of the department, is now on paid administrative leave. Lompoc police are conducting an internal investigation into the incident, in addition to the legal case.

Prior to Hill’s arrest, Lompoc officer David Garcia was arrested in March for driving under the influence and Sergeant Joseph Stetz was arrested in May for felony vandalism and making criminal threats. Stetz’s charges also stemmed from a domestic dispute, while Garica wound up in handcuffs after he crashed his car into a tree and took off while on duty.

After Hill’s arrest, Lompoc Police Chief Patrick Walsh said he is taking the incidents very seriously.

“We work at the will of the people, and they need to trust us,” Walsh said. “I think the law is the law, and everybody should be held to the same.”

In addition to the arrests of officers, another Lompoc city employee was arrested earlier this month. On Oct. 7, parks and recreation worker Kelly Didrickson allegedly backed a city vehicle into another car and drove off while under the influence of alcohol.

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