By F. Scott Faulkner
SANTA MARIA, CA — A Santa Maria man was arrested after breaking into a home while a child was inside alone,
prompting an immediate police response.
At 10:50 a.m. March 8, Santa Maria Police Department 911 dispatch received a call from a
woman reporting a burglary in progress at her residence in the 300 block of East Dena Street.
According to SMPD spokesman Lt. Nathan Totorica, the woman, who was not home at the time,
stated, “her home surveillance system alerted her to an unknown male breaking into the
house,” and that her young son was inside and unable to leave.
Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they established communication with
the child and coordinated his safe escape from the residence. Once the child was out of harm’s
way, officers made multiple callouts to the suspect inside the home.
After a period of noncompliance, Oswaldo Herrera Cardenas, 42, of Santa Maria eventually exited the house and
was taken into custody without incident.
Cardenas was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where he was charged with
residential burglary and preventing or dissuading a witness. He remains in custody with his bail
set at $100,000.
