Burglary Report Leads to Four Arrests in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA – When police responded to reports of a residential burglary Tuesday morning in the 500 block of Richard Street, they didn’t find a burglary in progress but instead found two people who had barricaded themselves inside the home.

Taunya Gaitan

At 8 a.m. on Dec. 11, Santa Maria officers received a call about an unidentified male who was possibly breaking into and burglarizing a residence at 512 Richard St., according to police.

Nancy Cerna

When officers arrived at the address, they tried to make contact with any persons in the residence and observed a male inside the home. Police said the man saw the officers and knew they were outside, however nobody came to the front door. Eventually, officers made contact with two males who exited the residence. Both men were detained.

Ramon Maldonado

During a search of the home’s interior, a female left the house and was also detained. Officers began searching the home again after the woman was detained and found two more people hiding inside a barricaded room. They were also subsequently detained, according to police.

The initial report of a possible burglary in progress was found to be unsubstantiated, although four of the five people detained were arrested for various violations.

Alfred Plaza

Ramon Maldonado, 36, a known and documented Santa Maria gang member, was arrested for locally issued warrants, as well as probation violations stemming from Monterey County.

Alfred Plaza, 51, also a known and documented Santa Maria gang member, was arrested for parole violations and warrants.

Nancy Cerna, 29, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, and Taunya Gaitan, 46, was arrested for outstanding warrants.

All four subjects were booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

Read More:

KCOY: Burglary Call Leads to Four Arrests, Neighbors React

Noozhawk: Home Burglary in Progress Leads to 4 Arrests