Law Enforcement Action Closes Southbound 101 Lanes

[UPDATE, July 3]: The suspect in Monday’s officer-involved shooting has been identified as 47-year-old Matthew Lyell Berg of Santa Maria.

[UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.]:Drew Sugars with the Sheriff’s Department reports that at 12:42 p.m. today a woman called 911 to report a break-in at her home in the 2900 block of Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley. As deputies responded a man was witnessed exiting the house and driving away from the scene in a small green car. The deputy made contact with the suspect on Highway 154, but he sped away, said Sugars.

The suspect led the pursuing deputy — and CHP officers who joined the chase — onto southbound Highway 101 before driving onto Avenue of the Flags and all the way to Santa Rosa Road south of Buellton. At this point the suspect made a turn up a highway offramp and began speeding northbound in 101 southbound lanes, weaving through traffic.

A deputy driving north in the northbound lanes trailed the suspect who eventually stopped at the bridge over the Santa Ynez River. Another deputy driving south in the southbound lanes approached the suspect, but he proceeded to ram the deputy’s car, said Sugars. The deputy opened fire, killing the suspect, who’s name has not been released.

No one else was injured in the incident. Southbound 101 lanes in the area remain closed as investigators process the scene, said Sugars.

[ORIGINAL REPORT]:All southbound Highway 101 lanes in the Buellton area are currently closed as Sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers respond to what appears to be a high-speed chase.

Two CHP spokespersons declined to comment on the specifics on the incident, except to say it includes an “officer-involved shooting.” They said the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency in the case.

The Sheriff’s spokesperson was not immediately available for comment, but stay tuned for additional reports as information is released.

In a press release sent out moments ago, Caltrans recommends motorists use Highway 154 as an alternate route. “Northbound U.S. 101 remains open but motorists should expect delays during this incident,” the statement reads. “There is no estimated time of opening the southbound lanes.”