A Santa Maria man was arrested on charges of vandalism and possession of a loaded firearm Tuesday morning, after Santa Maria Police received an alert from a resident.

Just after midnight on Aug. 26, an SMPD officer patroling the commercial area near Shepard Drive and Hancock Avenue was flagged down by an individual reporting suspicious men loitering near vehicles in a commercial business area.

Upon arriving, the officer contacted one subject near a local car dealership.

The individual, identified as 29-year-old Michael Fairgood, of Santa Maria, was detained as the investigation continued.

Officers reportedly discovered tools used to siphon gasoline, and a nearby vehicle showed damage consistent with an attempted fuel theft. A search of Fairgood reportedly revealed he was carrying a loa

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