Three Arrested, Loaded Handgun Found After Attempted Robbery at Goleta Home Depot

A witness who reported suspicious behavior in the Camino Real Marketplace parking area helped Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies stop what appeared to be an armed robbery in progress at the Goleta Home Depot on Jan. 29, 2026. Deputies detained three men and seized a loaded handgun along with narcotics and paraphernalia, actions that are likely to raise safety and security concerns among store employees.

The witness called 9-1-1 after observing two men in a parked blue Jeep put on ski masks and drop off a third man who entered the store. Deputies responded, contacted the vehicle occupants and then located the third man inside the store. “The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the reporting party for being an excellent witness and for doing the right thing by promptly notifying law enforcement,” the department said in a press statement. “Their awareness and willingness to report suspicious activity played an important role in this investigation.”

The men detained in the parking area were identified as 26-year-old Malik Asad of Santa Barbara and 37-year-old Nicholas Dudley of Los Angeles. Deputies said Dudley was removed from the vehicle while officers observed Asad “making furtive movements” and attempting to conceal an item in his lap. That item was a handgun, and deputies held Asad at gunpoint until they secured the loaded weapon.

A third man, identified as 46-year-old Ryan Hammond of Summerland, was detained inside the Home Depot. Deputies reported finding fentanyl and drug paraphernalia on Hammond. Dudley was found with fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, while Asad was found with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and items described as consistent with drug sales. Deputies characterized Dudley and Asad as “uncooperative,” officials said.

All three men were booked into the county jail on multiple charges; the specific charges were not provided by deputies in the initial account. Authorities described the episode as conduct that “appeared to be an armed robbery,” but did not confirm whether formal robbery charges had been filed.

For Home Depot staff and loss prevention teams, the incident is a reminder of the unpredictable safety risks that can occur in parking areas and on the sales floor. Store managers may review security-camera footage, coordinate with local law enforcement, and revisit emergency response and concealment-of-weapons procedures with associates. For front-line employees, awareness and prompt reporting - the actions credited by the sheriff’s office - can be critical to preventing escalation.

Follow-up reporting should clarify exact charges, booking details and whether store surveillance corroborated the witness account. Meanwhile, the store and local authorities are likely to consider whether any operational changes are needed to reduce risks to employees and customers.