Santa Maria Police Arrest Man After Armed Standoff

Santa Maria police arrested 40-year-old Mario Lopez after he allegedly threatened a resident with a knife, entered a vacant property and refused to surrender during a standoff on Nov. 7. Police said Lopez pointed a firearm-like object and a metal pipe toward officers, who used verbal de-escalation efforts before deploying a distraction device, less-lethal rounds and a K-9 to take him into custody. Lopez suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital before being booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, brandishing a weapon, trespassing and violating probation.