Edhat Staff
Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
At about 12:30 p.m. yesterday, October 26, 2017, law enforcement from the Compliance Response Team, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Maria Police Department and California Highway Patrol were conducting a probation search at the residence in the 1900 block of Estriga Court in Santa Maria. As part of the probation search, information was developed that a wanted Post Release Community Supervision Offender, identified as 34-year-old Saam Massoudi of Santa Maria, may be in the residence. Massoudi had an outstanding arrest warrant for being in violation of his release terms and is on active Post Release Community Supervision for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
When law enforcement knocked on the front door and identified themselves, they heard several people moving and talking from within the residence. After several announcements demanding entry into the residence, law enforcement forced open the front door. At that point, two females walked out of the residence and were detained. Additional people were heard inside the residence and further investigation revealed that Massoudi was inside the attic. Knowing Massoudi was wanted for being a felon with a firearm; law enforcement did not enter the residence and continued to yell for the subjects to surrender. When the subjects refused to surrender, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) was deployed. As a precautionary measure, Liberty Elementary School was placed on lockdown for a short time until a secure perimeter was set around the residence. Several nearby residences were evacuated.
After a couple hours of the suspects refusing to surrender peacefully, the decision was made to deploy tear gas. A short time later, Massoudi and a female, who was later identified as 36-year-old Callie Jones, exited out of the residence. Both were taken into custody without further incident.
41-year-old Mae Urban, the owner of the residence, was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for resisting and delaying a peace office and harboring a fugitive. Massoudi was booked after receiving medical clearance, for violation of his post release supervision and resisting and delaying a peace officer. Callie Jones was booked after receiving medical clearance for resisting and delaying a peace officer and two narcotics related arrest warrants.
