Arrest made in armed robbery at Santa Maria liquor store

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A Santa Maria man was taken into custody following two robberies, including an armed robbery at a liquor store.

Santa Maria Police say it happened around 7:45 p.m. Monday in the 1500 block of South Broadway.

Officers were told that a man walked into the store and flashed a gun.

Police say he took an alcoholic beverage from a cooler and walked out of the store without paying.

Officers were searching the liquor store for evidence when a man walked up to the area. Police said the man matched the description of the robber.

Officers took Anthony Prado, 28, of Santa Maria, into custody.

Investigators say witnesses identified him as the man involved in the robbery.

Around the time police were arresting him, a second robbery victim contacted the police department and said Prado stole something from her motel room and then showed her that he had a gun when she tried to get the item back.

Police searched the surrounding areas during their investigation and located a pellet gun about a block away. Officers say Prado had tossed the pellet gun, which looked like a real handgun.

Prado was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on two counts of robbery.

Bail was set at $100,000.