Police Searching for Wanted Man Allegedly Armed and Dangerous

SANTA MARIA – Police are searching for a known gang member who’s believed to be armed and dangerous, after the man was allegedly seen Wednesday afternoon near a local elementary school brandishing a gun.

Ricardo Cruz

Just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Roschelle Lane for a report of a disturbance involving a male subject who had a gun. The suspect, Ricardo Cruz, of Santa Maria, was last seen heading toward Adam Elementary school, which was placed on lockdown, according to the Police Department.

After responding to the area, gang detectives spotted Cruz  outside where children were playing. Cruz also saw the officers and ran into a nearby residential apartment complex.The area was surrounded and an extensive search for Cruz was initiated.

K-9 officers from the Pismo Beach and Santa Maria police departments, as well as the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, helped in the effort of searching for the suspect, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter was also utilized to assist in the hours-long search, although Cruz was never located, police said.

Cruz is a known and documented Santa Maria gang member, and was on federal probation at the time of this incident. He was already wanted by authorities for violating his probation.

Anyone with information about Cruz’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Police Department at (805) 928-3781.  Anonymous tips can also be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP.

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