Sheriff’s Investigation Leads to Three Arrests in Santa Maria Following Barricaded Suspect and Pursuit
Three Santa Maria men are behind bars following a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s investigation into a probation violation.
Bobby Johnson was arrested on August 4 in the 200 block of W. Rochelle after allegedly being in possession of a concealed firearm during a probation search, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Johnson’s arrest led deputies to arrest Jorge Garcia on August 9 at a home in the 2200 block of Johnson Drive for failing to comply with California state law after authorities discovered an illegally-modified AK-47. Authorities also discovered an AR-15 assault rifle and three high-capacity magazines.
Authorities also identified the third suspect involved, Jesus Piceno, as the person responsible for allegedly providing Johnson with the concealed firearm. The Sheriff’s Office says Piceno was already on felony probation for narcotics-related charges at the time.
When police tried to make a traffic stop after spotting him inside a car in Santa Maria, Piceno took off driving recklessly through city streets, according to SMPD. Police officers decided to end the pursuit out of safety reasons.
Piceno was spotted again later that day in the 200 block of W. Rochelle. With the assistance of Santa Maria police, a Fish and Game warden, and the Sheriff’s Air Support Unit, Piceno’s residence was surrounded.
Eventually, Piceno escaped from a second-story window into a nearby occupied apartment. As law enforcement entered the apartment, Piceno fled to the second-story roof and jumped onto an adjacent single-story roof and then onto the ground in the carport.
Once on the ground, police took Piceno into custody but not before a struggle. During the struggle, a deputy struck Piceno twice with a less-lethal foam baton.
Piceno suffered a leg injury while jumping from the roofs in his attempt to flee, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to Marian Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.
Piceno was booked at Santa Barbara County jail and is facing:
236 PC False imprisonment
459 PC Residential burglary of an occupied dwelling
69 PC Resist an executive officer
2800.1 VC Felony vehicle evading
273(a)(a) PC Felony child endangerment
27530 PC Selling firearm without license
29800 PC Felon in possession of a firearm
30305 PC Felon in possession of ammunition
496 PC Possession of stolen property
10851 VC Possession stolen vehicle
Johnson was charged with carrying a concealed firearms and armed criminal action. Garcia was charged with possession of an unlawful assault weapon.
