Crime & Safety

Criminal Hides in Capitola Village Tree

Louie Joseph Farrell eventually surrendered after hours in the tree.

A man suspected of armed robbery was arrested Monday morning after
climbing a tree to evade police.

Louie Joseph Farrell, 35, of Modesto is suspected of robbing a 21-year-old man at gunpoint in the 100 block of Elm Street in Watsonville at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's officials said he was seen driving away in a blue truck. Sunday afternoon, at around 1 p.m., a Soquel Hills resident reported seeing a suspicious man in a blue truck near his property.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Farrell allegedly drove the truck through a fence and into a propane tank before fleeing the vehicle, sheriff's officials said.

The truck was stolen out of San Mateo County and ammunition for various weapons was found inside, according to the sheriff's office.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At around 1 a.m. Monday morning Capitola police contacted Farrell and two women while they were parked in the 100 block of Cliff Drive.

The two women, Maryellen Klee, 32, and Gloria Aguilar, 37, both from the Central Valley, were arrested on outstanding warrants, sheriff's officials said.

Farrell fled from police during a search and ran down a steep hillside while officers set up a perimeter to contain him, officials said.

Several hours later, sheriff's officials said Farrell climbed a tree to avoid police K-9s.

Farrell eventually surrendered to authorities at around 7 a.m. Monday morning and was booked into Santa Cruz County jail.

--Reporting by Bay City News


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