Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Maria Police Department’




Woman burns to death near Santa Maria mental health clinic

A woman burned to death in Santa Maria on Sunday near a Santa Barbara County mental health clinic. At about 12:48 p.m., Santa Maria police received a call about a person on fire in the 500 block of W. Foster... (Continue reading)

DA says deadly Santa Maria police shooting was justified

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has concluded that last summer’s fatal shooting of a mentally ill Santa Maria man was a justifiable homicide. A report released by the district attorney’s office states three Santa Maria officers had reasonable... (Continue reading)

Sibling tag team uses gun, pepper spray in Santa Maria robberies

During an early morning Santa Maria robbery, one brother pepper sprayed a male victim, and the other sibling hit him in the head with a handgun, according to the city’s police department. Moments later, the brothers allegedly robbed a female... (Continue reading)

Family of man killed by police sues Santa Maria

The family of a man who was shot and killed last year by Santa Maria police officers has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, as well as its police department and five officers. Javier Gaona, 31, was armed with... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man stabs wife in the head on Valentine’s Day

A Santa Maria woman’s Valentine’s Day concluded with a trip to the hospital for multiple stab wounds and lacerations to her head, face and neck, according to the city’s police department. Mariano Elias Cordonas, 37, allegedly stabbed his wife repeatedly,... (Continue reading)

Police arrest Santa Maria man wielding a machete

Santa Maria police arrested a 34-year-old man Saturday for attempted murder after he allegedly attempted to strike several people with a machete. Shortly after 3 p.m., police responded to a home near the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria... (Continue reading)

Two men shot in three days in Santa Maria

Two men suffered gunshot wounds in a recent span of about three days in Santa Maria. Both victims survived with injuries that police say are not life-threatening. Police have yet to catch any suspects in either of the shootings. In... (Continue reading)

Men accused of murdering Marilyn Pharis to appear in court

The two men accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Santa Maria woman Marilyn Pharis, 64, are due to appear in court this week for preliminary hearings. [KSBY] Last week, Santa Barbara County prosecutors announced they would not pursue the death... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria chief admits to fabricating news, local press angry

Santa Maria Police Chief Ralph Martin has admitted to fabricating a story about two Guadalupe men being arrested for identity theft, a tale local media subsequently reported. Martin said he made up the story in order to save the lives... (Continue reading)

Deputies break up Santa Maria cockfight

Acting on an anonymous tip, law enforcement officers broke up a cockfighting tournament taking place east of Santa Maria on Sunday, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The tournament allegedly attracted individuals from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and... (Continue reading)