Atascadero State Hospital police officer arrested on drug, firearm charges
An Atascadero State Hospital police officer was arrested Monday in Santa Maria on suspicion of drug and weapon-related crimes, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Leonel Lazaro, 36, is an officer with the Department of Hospital Police who lives in Santa Maria.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lazaro was stopped and arrested around 5 p.m. Monday near the intersection of College Drive and Park Avenue on a Ramey warrant based on an ongoing investigation led by detectives from the Special Investigation Bureau.
Ramey warrants are issued prior to charges being filed with the district attorney’s office.
Lazaro was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail for allegedly selling a firearm to a prohibited person, being in possession of a firearm while addicted to narcotics, conspiracy and embezzlement — all felony charges, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was also booked for a misdemeanor charge for providing ammunition to a prohibited person.
The Department of State Hospitals said they are aware that one of their police officers was arrested and they are cooperating with the investigation.
Lazaro has since been released on $35,000 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Lazaro was placed on and will remain on administrative time off until the investigation is complete, according to the DSH.
The article has been updated to include a statement from the Department of State Hospitals.
This story was originally published October 20, 2020 at 12:53 PM.
