Santa Maria police arrest suspects, impound vehicles in vandalism following peaceful protest
Police have arrested people on suspicion of vandalism following a peaceful protest and march in Santa Maria.
Approximately 400 people gathered Sunday afternoon in front of Santa Maria City Hall for a peaceful protest related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
But the Santa Maria Police Department said the evening ended in vandalism, a torn-down American flag and a small fire. There was also a stabbing in the area, police said.
After the demonstration, police said, several people “engaged in illegal activity drawing a crowd of hundreds of people” in the area of Cook Street and Broadway.
Police said dozens of officers from surrounding agencies dispersed the crowd.
Following the vandalism, the Santa Maria mayor ordered implementation of a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., ending at 5 a.m. June 8.
The Santa Maria Police Department said it has identified some of the people involved in Sunday’s illegal activities.
On Wednesday, police began making arrests and impounding vehicles, the agency said.
”We are here to support all that engage in peaceful protest and respect the individual and property rights of others,” a Santa Maria Police Department Facebook post read. “Those that seek to victimize others will be held accountable.”
According to the post, the investigation is ongoing.
