SantaMariaPoliceBy the Santa Maria Police Department
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Case #SMPD23-0003416
On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at approximately 12:41 AM, SMPD patrol officers were sent to the 900 block of E. Jones Street regarding a robbery that had just occurred. Officers responded and located three adult victims of robbery.
Two victims reported being physically assaulted before personal property was forcibly taken from them by the suspects (small group of juveniles and/or young adults). During the commission of the crime, one of the suspects brandished a firearm. The suspects left the area in a vehicle that collided with a parked vehicle while fleeing the scene.
Patrol officers’ investigation led to a suspect vehicle being identified. At approximately 1:14 AM, officers located and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 19-year-old Saul Dolores Morelos, was ultimately arrested on Conspiracy & Robbery related charges. Dolores Morelos was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. Vehicle damage to the suspect vehicle was also tied to the parked vehicle that was hit while fleeing the scene.
On March 29, 2023, SMPD Detective Cole Whitney conducted a subsequent follow-up investigation that led to Saul Dolores Morelos being identified as an additional suspect in the January 30, 2023, Carjacking. This case was previously covered in the news brief [here] distributed by the SMPD on March 27, 2023. Dolores Morelos was booked on additional charges (Carjacking) in connection to the January 30, 2023, incident (Case #SMPD23-0001077).
Anyone with further information related to any of these investigations is encouraged to contact Detective Whitney at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 1329 or the SMPD Communications Center at ext. 2277.
Great work Law Enforcement! Keep these scum off the streets!!! May all such work be as productive as this was!