SWAT Team Helps Santa Maria Police Arrest Sexual Assault and Robbery Suspect

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Santa Maria Police Department officers responded to a reported assault in the 1700 block of Oxford Avenue.

Officers contacted an adult female victim who reported she had been sexually and physically assaulted by Angel Corona, whom she knew as “Alex.” The victim stated Corona was armed with a handgun during the incident and forcibly took money from her before retreating into the residence.

Officers established containment and made repeated announcements for Corona to surrender; however, he refused to comply. Detectives obtained a search warrant, and due to the seriousness of the offenses and information that Corona may have been armed, the SMPD SWAT Team was activated and assumed control of the incident.

Corona ultimately surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. Additional occupants were detained and later released, with one individual cited for resisting/obstructing officers. Detectives completed service of the search warrant.

Corona was arrested for 261 PC (Rape), 211 PC (Robbery), and 245(a)(1) PC (Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury) and was booked into the Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail.

The investigation remains ongoing.