Edhat StaffSource: Santa Maria Police Department
On 3-26-18, at about 1326 hours, Santa Maria Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a residential burglary in progress in the 400 block of E. Newlove Drive. As the officers arrived on scene, two suspects were seen running from the area. Officers chased after one of the suspects and were able to take him into custody after a brief struggle. As the officers struggled with the suspect, he dropped firearm ammunition that was taken from the home, leading the officers to believe he may have been armed.
A perimeter around the neighborhood was set up and a search for the second suspect ensued. The California Highway Patrol’s Aviation Unit and the Santa Maria Police Department’s Canine Unit assisted in the search for the second suspect. It was believed this suspect was in possession of a firearm that was stolen from the victim’s residence.
After an extensive search, the second suspect was located hiding in some bushes near at adjacent street. When officers attempted to contact the juvenile, he attempted to flee the scene. The suspect was apprehended a short distance away.
Because the stolen firearm was still outstanding, officers continued to search the neighborhood. The firearm was ultimately located near the location of the original crime.
Because the two suspects are juveniles, there names and photographs will not be released. Officers are continuing with several other residential burglary investigations that have been reported to this agency over the past week in an attempt to determine their connection, if any, to these suspects.
