SantaMariaPoliceBy the Santa Maria Police Department
Case #SMPD23-0004101
On Friday, April 14, 2023, at about 12:20 PM, the Santa Maria Police Department responded to the report of a subject with a firearm in the 700 block of E. Meehan Street. Patrol officers investigated and determined a suspect pointed a firearm at two adult victims at close range and threatened to kill them.
Thirty-year-old Santa Maria area resident Eric Locksley was determined to be the suspect with the firearm in this case. The Santa Maria Police Department’s Detective Bureau took over the investigation that resulted in arrest and search warrants being issued for Locksley and his residence.
On Saturday, April 15, 2023, at about 3:00 am, the Detective Bureau, with the assistance of the Santa Maria Police Department’s SWAT Team, served search and arrest warrants at a residence in the 1100 block of Hilltop Drive. Eric Locksley and an acquaintance, 30-year-old Rafael Lua Valencia, were both arrested during the warrant service operation.
Locksley was booked on Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Criminal Threats charges related to the Meehan incident.
Valencia was booked on an outstanding felony warrant for resisting a police officer out of Yuba County.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Santiago at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 1362 or the SMPD Communications Center (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 2277.
