Peaceful protests Sunday that took a destructive turn in Santa Maria led to a citywide curfew.
Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino announced the curfew, which is effective immediately, during a press conference Monday afternoon.
Patino says it will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through June 8 and prohibits people from using public streets, parks, and other public places within City Limits.
Exemptions include people traveling to and from work and those seeking emergency help, law enforcement, fire personnel, emergency health care providers, emergency medical personnel, the news media and those engaged in police or emergency work.
To read the full order, click here.
Crowds of people gathered at the intersection of Cook and Broadway Sunday night where fireworks were set off and cars were doing donuts around a fire set in the middle of the intersection.
There were reports of a stabbing and an American flag outside City Hall was cut down, all before some people headed over to the Santa Maria Town Center Mall, broke inside and stole from at least one business.
Other cities across the nation have also imposed similar curfews in response to protests and riots stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
