Armed Woman Arrested After Barricading in Home

Source: Santa Maria Police Department

On February 13, 2018, at about 1240 hours, SMPD Officers spotted Joanna Savoy (age 37 of Santa Maria, CA), who was wanted on two felony warrants, get into a vehicle at a local motel. Officers followed the vehicle and attempted an enforcement stop in an effort to arrest Savoy, who was believed to be in possession of a firearm. When the enforcement stop was initiated, the driver of the vehicle that Savoy was in failed to stop and led officers on a brief pursuit. Shortly after the initiation of the pursuit, it was determined to be unsafe for those involved and other motorists on the roadway, therefore, it was terminated. 

Santa Maria Police Officers, with the assistance of Deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, continued with the investigation and were able to locate the suspect vehicle and driver. It was learned that when officers first attempted to stop the vehicle, Savoy pointed a gun at the driver and threatened her harm if she st opped the vehicle. A short time later, Officers located Savoy inside a home in the 1100 block of Kit Way, Santa Maria, CA. Officers made numerous attempts to contact Savoy by both phone and loud speaker, but she refused to communicate.

Because of the reported crime of violence with the use of a firearm, the Santa Maria Police Department’s SWAT team responded to the scene. Attempts at negotiations proved to be unsuccessful. After about five hours of attempts, SWAT team members deployed CS gas into the home, which ultimately led to Savoy’s surrender. She was placed under arrest for the two felony warrants, as well as kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. Savoy was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the charges listed above. A booking photo of Savoy is not available at this time.