Sheriff Arrests Two in Santa Maria During Attempted Murder Investigation

Early Thursday morning, Sheriff’s Deputies served search and arrest warrants in the Tanglewood area of Santa Maria in connection with a July 27 attempted homicide in which two people were shot in a garage. Deputies stopped at two residences – 1918 Elmwood Drive and 2079 Sandalwood Drive – and arrested 20-year-old Francisco “Frank” Mejia Martinez and 20-year-old Christopher Richard Castillo. Martinez was arrested on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, discharging a firearm into an inhabited dwelling, and active participation in a street gang. He is being help at Santa Barbara County Jail on $1 million bail. Castillo was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and was booked into the county jail on $2,500 bail.

The Sheriff’s Department is requesting that anybody with further information regarding the July 27 shooting to call Detective Daniel Kies at (805) 934-6170.