City rangers crack down on loitering in Downtown Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - You may be seeing more city rangers patrolling downtown Santa Maria these days.

That’s because they’re trying to make the area safer for everyone.

"Our main concern is ensuring the public is aware that loitering is not
allowed in the city parking structures. It is prohibited by municipal code," said senior park services officer Casey Stone of the City of Santa Maria.

This comes in light of the shooting that killed a 17-year old Santa Maria
boy near the parking structure of the Town Center Mall on Feb. 4.

"We want the public to know that we go to every effort to make the downtown
place a safe place to come … to bring your family and do activities," said director Alex Posada of the Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department.

The city says one of the main concerns has to do with activities they’re
seeing during after hours.

"We just want to make sure people know the mall is open for business … we
definitely encourage people to come down … but there should be no hanging
around in and around vehicles," said Stone.

City rangers are increasing their presence around the Town Center Mall and
other areas of the city.

"We are working to ensure safety ... along with the Santa Maria Police Department ... and so we’re going to take that
opportunity to educate the public. You should not be loitering in or around
vehicles … and if necessary take enforcement action," said Stone.

City rangers say if you see any suspicious activities, call police, and they will investigate it.