Photo: Demetrius Johnson
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY // Being forcibly robbed is one thing; requiring hospitalization after being robbed is quite another.
When Santa Maria police responded to a 911 Emergency report of a violent robbery in progress at a North Benwiley Avenue address just before 8:00 p.m. on December 16th, they responded in force. Part of that force was a Santa Maria Police Department K-9 unit.
According to SMPD spokesman Sgt. Jeff Lopez, upon arrival at the scene, “officers observed the suspect leaving the area on foot.” At that point, the chase was on, with the suspect fleeing and refusing “to comply with the orders” of the cops pursuing him. Rather than engage in a protracted game of cat-and-mouse, “the K-9 team was called in,” and the suspect was soon dogged down and immediately subdued.
Once the suspect was contacted and taken into custody, he was identified as 37-year-old Santa Maria resident Demetrius Johnson. He was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on multiple charges including attempted robbery, assault, battery, and evading arrest. He remains in custody and is being held without bail.
Johnson’s victim was transported to Santa Maria’s Marian Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries sustained during the commission of the robbery.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking.
