Attempted murder suspect arrested in Santa Maria after vandalism incident, police say
Santa Maria Police officers Sunday afternoon arrested a man suspected of attempted murder, according to a department news release.
Officers responded about 9:45 a.m. to reports of vandalism at a residence in the 200 block of North Western Avenue, according to the release. As officers headed to the area, they saw a man with a head injury about two blocks away, in the 900 block of West Main Street.
Officers said they provided first aid until an ambulance arrived and took the man to a local hospital. He is expected to survive, the release said.
It was determined the man was connected to the vandalism report, according to police, although the release did not provide specifics on the connection.
Officers said an investigation revealed he had been struck in the head with a shovel by a suspect identified as Juan Carlos Arizaga-Rosas, a 37-year-old Santa Maria resident. An arrest warrant was subsequently written.
About 2:40 p.m., police returned to the residence in the 200 block of North Western Avenue in an attempt to locate Arizaga-Rosas.
Arizaga-Rosas was in the front yard and arrested without incident, the release stated.
