Friday, May 18, 2012
Take a gander at this week's group of most wanted criminals.
Local law enforcement agencies have come together and are asking for the public's help in locating some of the county's most wanted. Have you seen any of this week's fugitives? If so, contact your local law enforcement agency. SHERIFF'S OFFICE Amanda Niemczyk AGE: 27 DESCRIPTION: 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. HOME: Santa Cruz WARRANT: Felony theft with prior convictions and drug possession. She failed to comply with the terms of her probation. SHERIFF'S OFFICE Diana Quiroz AGE: 30 DESCRIPTION: 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes HOME: Santa Cruz WARRANT: Identity theft, theft of an ATM card and multiple thefts. She failed to appear in court for the charges. WATSONVILLE…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The man accused of torching a carport last summer will be in court in August.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Fog Bank and Paradise Beach Grille were evacuated late Wednesday morning.
Update 2:22 p.m.: Paradise Beach Grille has re-opened, while Fog Bank remains closed. The gas, however, is still out at Paradise Beach meaning the menu is limited to simpler items like soup, salad and sandwiches. Original Report: Business is on hold at the Fog Bank and Paradise Beach Grille on Wednesday afternoon as a natural gas leak reported at 11:33 a.m. forced the evacuation of both eateries. Construction across the street from both Esplanade restaurants in front of the Capitola Hotel has slowed traffic of late, but now it has resulted in business stoppage as well. "They're doing some construction and one of the workers hit [the gas line]," Central Fire Spokesman Mike DeMars said. The line, which DeMars said is either a half inch or …
Wednesday marks the two month anniversary of Sierra LaMar's disappearance, and more searches are already scheduled.
Friends and family of missing Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar are marking the two-month anniversary of her disappearance today with another search. Sierra, 15, disappeared after she left for school on the morning of March 16, prompting extensive searches of the area. Sheriff's investigators have said they believe her disappearance is an abduction. “This is not how I wanted to acknowledge this date,” Sierra’s father, Steve, said. “But I am grateful that the community continues to support her cause.” Despite Sierra’s multi-month absence, support remains strong for the Sobrato High Student, with more searches underway today and Saturday. “The KlaasKids Foundation is continuing to assist law enforcement and the LaMar family with future searches…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Santa Cruz Sentinel's editor Don Miller wrote a letter of retraction printed Tuesday. "In retrospect, as a newspaper, we could have done a more rigorous job of determining the truth about the caller's claim."
Last week the Santa Cruz Sentinel had many in the community upset by a story that claimed a resident called 9-1-1 numerous times to report a suspicious person, whom they said later killed Shannon Collins. The report was made by Don Adams, who has a business in Lower Ocean, the newspaper said last Wednesday, sparking anger in the community and on local talk radio station KSCO-AM (1080) about the failure of police to respond. The article was released online Wednesday and printed in the paper Thursday. Thursday, the 9-1-1 center released a report that no calls had been made by Adams, a regular neighborhood watch caller, about a suspicious man. "In hindsight, we could have waited to examine dispatch records before publishing the claim," wrote …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Information is provided by the Capitola Police Department and Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. Arrests do not indicate convictions.
May 12: Vandalism over $400: Someone broke the windows of a car after an argument at 5505 Soquel Dr. at 10:40 p.m. DUI: 1400 block, Wharf Road, 7:09 p.m. Public Intoxication: 1800 block, 41st Avenue, 10:32 p.m. May 11: Public Intoxication: 1300 block, 45th Avenue, 2:27 a.m. Burglary: 4400 block, Diamond Street, 3:45 p.m. May 10: Petty Theft: 4000 block, Capitola Road, 4:12 p.m. May 9: Battery: An adult male wanted to press charges after claiming another male pushed him. The accused pusher denied the pushing. Seriously. This was at 890 38th Ave. at 1 p.m. May 8: Inflicting Corporal Injury on Cohabitant: 400 block, Loma Avenue, 8:11 p.m. Battery with Serious Bodily Harm: A male juvenile was assaulted on the 200 block of Washburn Avenue at 7:…
A drunken driver put up a big fight on Sunday night.
A Potter Valley man caused a roadside ruckus in Aptos Sunday night when a DUI arrest turned into a violent occasion. Jeffrey Scott King, 59, was pulled over at 9:33 by a Santa Cruz CHP officer at 7850 Soquel Drive just past the State Park Drive exit for driving eratically. According to the CHP, King failed field sobriety tests and then "became uncooperative and began physically resisting the officer." The struggle caught the attention of a witness, who came to the officer's aid. Eventually the officer used his Taser on King to gain control. Both King and the officer were transported Dominican Hospital. Both were discharged and King was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail and charged with DUI, resisting arrest and battery on a police officer…
Friday, May 11, 2012
Police are looking for three 'most wanted' in Watsonville and more countywide. Have you seen them?
Local law enforcement agencies have come together and are asking for the public's help in locating some of the county's most wanted. Have you seen any of this week's fugitives? If so, contact your local law enforcement agency. SHERIFF'S OFFICE Crystal Ann Kushalich AGE: 29 DESCRIPTION: 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 200 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes HOME: Santa Cruz WARRANT: Drug possession in prison. Kushalich was convicted of possession of a controlled substance inside a prison. She violated the terms of her probation. WATSONVILLE POLICE Billy Martinez AGE: 42 DESCRIPTION: 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes HOME: Campbell WARRANT: Attempted burglary and vandalism. He failed to go to court after his …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Kelly Nielsen is back behind bars just 10 days after his release on parole.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man on Thursday who is believed to have made a habit of loitering at schools over the past week. Parolee Kelly Lynn Nielsen, 47, of Santa Cruz was contacted by deputies shortly after 11 a.m. after he was found walking on the Shoreline Middle School Campus in Live Oak. According to the sheriff's office, Nielsen, who was just released from prison on April 30, is also suspected of trespassing at Santa Cruz's Gault School, Costanoa School, De LaVeaga Elementary School and Vine Hill School in Scotts Valley. He was also seen loitering near Del Mar Elementary School in Live Oak. On at least one occassion, a witness reported him looking into classroom windows. "It does not appear that Nielsen made …
There was a major crackdown on people driving and using cell phones in April.
April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month and during the month, Santa Cruz-area CHP officers wrote a 582 citations to drivers talking on cell phones as they drove, 55 citations for texting and driving, and six "other" distracted driving citations, the CHP reported. In 2011, CHP officers issued more than 168,000 citations statewide to motorists who were in violation of the hands-free law: Vehicle Code 23123(a), 23124(a) and 23123.5(a). “Driving is a complex task, requiring a motorist’s full attention," Santa Cruz Area commander, Cpt.. Matt Olson said in a prepared statement. "Anything that diverts the driver’s eyes or attention from the roadway; even for 1-2 seconds, could result in tragedy. The bottom line, whatever the distraction, it…
Jacob Bourne
9:34 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thanks for the update, Shannon! more ›