Santa Maria man arrested during home burglary
What began as a typical Tuesday morning at a home in a quiet northwest Santa Maria neighborhood spun quickly out of control after a man came into the house and went on a suspected drug-induced rampage causing thousands of dollars in damage.
A woman inside the house at the time fled to safety as Santa Maria Police responded to a 911 call for help.
Santa Maria Police say the first officer on scene confronted the suspect, identified as 20 year old Rafael Garcia, as he was leaving the house through the backyard carrying a flat-screen television.
Police say Garcia refused to comply with the officer’s commands and was tased, restrained and taken into custody.
“He was very uncooperative”, says SMPD Sgt. Russ Mengel, “he was fortunate that the officer that was there, a very seasoned, experienced officer, deployed the taser, very effective application of the taser, got him into custody without any further issues.”
Rafael Garcia is facing several felony charges including burglary and vandalism in connection with the home invasion Tuesday morning that terrorized the family so much that they refused to talk about it on camera Wednesday night.
Santa Maria Police say its vital to know what to do and what not to do when confronted with an intruder in your home.
“Get to a place of safety”, Sgt. Mengel says, “whether that be go deeper into the residence, get behind locked doors or if you’re able, get out of the house, we’ll get there, we’ll address the situation.”
“The neighborhood has always been quiet, we’ve never had an issue”, says Angel Ibarra who has spent most of his life in the neighborhood where the burglary and vandalism Tuesday morning took place.
Ibarra agrees seeking a safe place is the most important thing to remember when confronted with a home intruder but adds he’s prepared to protect himself and his family if necessary.
“Oh definitely, definitely, personal protection, I do have means of personal protection here at home”, Ibarra says, “if I have to use it, I’ll use it, I’m not afraid to use it, I know how to use it, so.”
Santa Maria Police encourage residents to contact their neighborhood police beat coordinator for more information on how best to respond to an intruder in your home.
