Full Notification

WHAT: Arrest for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Stolen Property

WHERE: Suburban and Horizon, San Luis Obispo

WHEN: January 17, 2016 @ 5:15 PM

SUSPECT: Matthew SPICER, a 33 year old resident of San Luis Obispo

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Sergeant Chad Pfarr


On Friday afternoon, January 16th, an alert citizen called the San Luis Obispo Police Department to report a possible shooting. The shooting took place during the early morning hours on Thursday, in the field south of Los Osos Valley Road, near the Los Verdes Condominium complex. There were no injuries as a result of the shooting.

Investigating officers recovered video from a nearby surveillance camera and were able to identify Matthew SPICER and his vehicle as being involved in the shooting. The investigation into why SPICER was in the field when the shooting occurred is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

SPICER is a known felon who has been suspected in several recent burglaries in the City. As a result of the ongoing investigations into SPICER, officers conducted surveillance in areas he is known to frequent. On January 16th at about 5:15 PM, officers located SPICER on Suburban behind the Food 4 Less. Additional searching by officers located the vehicle captured in the surveillance video; on Suburban at Horizon. A motorhome used by SPICER was also located.

A search of both vehicles revealed several items of suspected and confirmed stolen property from cases currently being investigated by the Police Department. Additionally; officers located a handgun which is believed to the gun used by SPICER in the shooting. The gun was stolen during a residential burglary back in November, 2015, in San Luis Obispo. Additional investigation is on-going and will be made available as it can be released.

Matthew SPICER was booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing stolen property and being under the influence of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $20,000.