911 Call for Family Disturbance Leads to Arrest of Suspect on Elder Abuse Allegations
SANTA MARIA, CA — September 3, 2026 — On the night of September 2nd, a 911 Emergency call reporting a family disturbance brought Santa Maria patrol officers to a Santa Maria home to investigate.
According to the Santa Maria Police Department watch commander , upon arrival at the home, officers determined that 35-year-old Santa Maria resident David Alcala was “keeping family members inside against their will” and that Alcala appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Officers then established a secure perimeter around the residence and initiated verbal “de-escalation tactics” in an attempt to establish communication with Alcala and gain his voluntary compliance.
Those efforts were unsuccessful as Alcala refused to follow officers’ instructions before eventually emerging from the home and charging toward them.
At that point, police fired a 40 mm less-lethal round in an attempt to stop his advance, but Alcala continued moving toward the officers. A police K-9 unit was then deployed to help take him into custody.
Authorities said Alcala continued resisting arrest, prompting officers to fire a second less-lethal round. He was then subdued and placed under arrest.
Alcala was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center for treatment before being transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on suspicion of elder abuse, kidnapping, false imprisonment, resisting an executive officer and violating probation, police said.
Due to his probationary status, Alcala remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
– by F. Scott Faulkner
