When the Santa Maria Police Department sends out press releases to the news media asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect, the officers usually do so in the hopes that someone is reading or watching the news. The method worked in a recent case—except the suspect was the one who helped the police out by turning himself in.
On Dec. 26, the Santa Maria Police Department emailed a press release to local media seeking assistance from the public with the hopes of getting help in identifying a 17-year-old male suspect who allegedly robbed a store at 401 S. Blosser Road on Christmas afternoon. According to the police, the juvenile suspect took merchandise from the store, assaulted an employee, and fled without paying.
Along with the press release, the police sent out a photo and a surveillance video of the suspect. The person can be seen walking up to the counter with a case of beer before turning to walk out the door.
Even during the holidays, the news media, including the Sun, diligently blasted the suspect’s picture across airwaves and the internet.
Apparently it worked. The next day, the police issued another press release saying that the suspect turned himself in, and thanking local media for their help. Police said that the suspect was watching the news with his parents on the evening of Dec. 26 when he saw photos of himself on the television.
The suspect arrived at the Santa Maria Police Department the very same day and was arrested and booked into the juvenile detention center under suspicion of robbery, according to SMPD Lt. Dan Cohen. Because the suspect is younger than 18, his name isn’t being released, police said.
This article appears in Jan 1-8, 2015.