Santa Maria man arrested Thursday for weapons and drug charges

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Maria police arrested an 18-year-old man on drug and weapons charges in the 1300 block of S. Miller Street in Santa Maria on Thursday.

SMPD officers initially responded to a report of vandalism on February 26 of this year in the 1800 block of S Thornburg after security guards intervened in the graffiti infestation while the suspects brandished a firearm and fled the scene.

Officers then used a search warrant to search the teen’s vehicle and phone and seized 16 grams of suspected cocaine, as well as an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol and other evidence of drug sales and gun possession, SMPD said.

Detectives then issued an arrest warrant for the teen for armed drug possession, possession of a loaded/unregistered handgun and possession of narcotics for sale, as well as additional search warrants, SMPD said.

The man was later booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on his warrant and is being held on $50,000 bail after two search warrants were also executed in the 300 block of S. East in Santa Maria and the 4000 block of S. Blosser in Orcutt, SMPD said.