Employee Disarms Robbery Suspect

Source: Santa Maria Police Department

Today at about 3:10 p.m. we received a 911 call reporting a robbery involving a firearm in progress at a business in the 1800 block of North Broadway. Officers responded and arrested Daniel Diaz, 32 of Santa Maria for 211 P.C. Robbery.

During the investigation officers learned that a store employee had contacted Diaz over suspicious activity in the store. Diaz immediately produced a firearm and the employee fearing for his life, began struggling with Diaz over the firearm. Other employees and patrons came to the aid of the first employee disarming Diaz, calling 911 and worked to physically restrain Diaz until officers could arrive to take him into custody.

While under most circumstances it is not worth the risk to fight with an armed individual; however there are times that it becomes necessary, as it was today. We are grateful that no one was seriously injured and this was in large part do the courage of the others in the store who responded to assist the employee.

Diaz will be booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail.