Photo: Anthony Prado
Santa Barbara County – It’s traditionally considered apocryphal that criminals often return to the scene of their crimes, but in the case of 28-year-old Santa Maria resident Anthony Prado, his activity on the night of November 4th brings some truth to the legend.
According to Santa Maria Police Department spokesman Lt. Terry Flaa, it was approximately 7:34 p.m. on the 4th when Prado entered a downtown area liquor store and “took an alcoholic beverage from the cooler.”
Rather than stopping at the cash register to pay for his chosen beverage, Prado “refused to pay for the item and displayed what appeared to be a handgun” prior to summarily walking out the door and leaving the premises.
Shortly thereafter, SMPD officers responded to a call for service at the liquor store and were in the process of “investigating the crime scene” when Prado re-entered the premises of his own volition. The liquor store clerk alerted the cops to the fact that Prado was the suspect in question, whereupon they made contact with him. After a brief conversation, Prado was detained and taken into custody.
As the cops were arresting Prado, a second robbery report was received at Santa Maria Police Department. The call indicated that Prado had recently stolen property from a nearby motel room, and when confronted by the motel manager, “brandished a firearm” before leaving the area.
An investigation of the area adjacent to the liquor store ensued and officers “discovered a pellet gun discarded by Prado.” Prado was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on two counts of armed robbery, with his bail set at $200,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
