Santa Barbara County sheriff’s personnel were involved in a major operation at a Santa Maria apartment complex on Thursday, reportedly in response to a person who barricaded themselves in an apartment when deputies attempted to serve a warrant.
Deputies, including members of the department’s SWAT team, converged on the Arbor Ridge complex on the 300 block of East Enos Drive.
The operation seemed to be focused on the west side of the complex, where several apartments had been evacuated, and crime scene tape was blocking access.
“Deputies attempted warrant service at 7 a.m., wanted subject barricaded alone in an apartment and is believed to be armed,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick said in a social media message at 10:04 a.m.
The department deployed two armored Bearcat vehicles, a K-9 unit, and used a drone to get aerial views of the area.
More than four hours after the incident began, law enforcement officers had taken one person into custody safely, Zick said.
“Deputies will be working in the area for a while longer and will allow residents back in soon,” she added.
Members of the county Probation Department, Santa Maria Police Department, and Santa Maria City Fire Department also responded to the scene Thursday morning.
Noozhawk North County Editor Janene Scully reported from the scene.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
