Pot Dispensary Alarms Trigger 3 Arrests In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY - Three burglary suspects were arrested by sheriff's deputies early Thursday morning after allegedly setting off alarms at five different marijuana dispensaries in Santa Cruz County.

Deputies were dispatched to a dispensary in the 3900 block of Portola Drive to investigate an alarm activation at 10:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Suspects had broken a front window, gone inside and taken items, according to deputies.

Then at 2:49 a.m. Thursday deputies were dispatched to another alarm at a dispensary in the 9000 block of Soquel Drive. A front window was broken, but nothing had been stolen. Within an hour similar incidents were reported at two other dispensaries.

Deputies checked other dispensaries in the area and caught three men allegedly breaking into a fifth dispensary in Ben Lomand.

They tried to flee in a Honda Civic but crashed and were taken into custody after a brief foot chase, according to deputies.

Property stolen from the dispensaries was allegedly found in the Civic.

Deputies arrested 18-year-old Bejarmen Sanchez, 19-year-old Edgar Alfaro and 19-year-old Gerardo Patricio on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy.

-Bay City News, images via Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office