News Crew Knocks on Doors of MS-13 Members Arrested in ‘Operation Matador’

One day after more than a dozen arrests of known MS-13 gang members in Santa Maria, a KCOY 12 news crew went knocking on their known addresses.

A neighbor who witnessed one of the arrests says one of the men arrested moved into the neighborhood only a few days ago and rented a room in the house next to her.

The neighbor says she clearly heard police in the middle of the night, Thursday, calling out the suspect’s name for nearly 2 hours as authorities attempted to have the suspect come out of his house.

One woman who did not want to do a formal interview says she was the girlfriend of one of the known MS-13 gang members arrested. She says she was inside with her children when in the middle of the night they came to arrest him.

A homeowner, who also did not want to appear on camera, said she rented a room to two of the known gang members arrested. She says they barely spoke to one another and had just moved in about a month ago.

Santa Maria Police say all 15 gang members arrested will appear in court on March 18 for their arraignment.