Man Caught Trying To Break Into Watsonville Police Chief's Car

A man spotted by Watsonville’s police chief trying to enter the chief’s car was arrested Friday after getting into a fight with a police sergeant that was broken up by two bystanders, the police department reported.

At 12:16 p.m. Friday, Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano was attending a meeting at the Jacob’s Heart children cancer center on Freedom Boulevard when he saw two men peering into his unmarked police car, police said.

When they appeared to try to open one of the doors, Solano addressed the men, who then left the area, prompting the chief to get on his radio and report seeing the two suspects walking away on Airport Boulevard toward Roache Road, according to officers.

Sgt. Ed Delfin arrived at Airport Boulevard, contacted the suspects and attempted to search one of them, later identified as 21-year-old Daniel Miguel Guzman, for weapons, police said.

Guzman then attacked the sergeant, hitting him in the head, and as they struggled, Delfin tried to use his Taser on Guzman, but its darts failed to connect and had little or no effect, according to police.

At one point, Guzman was able to get a hold of Delfin’s baton and the fight moved into the westbound lanes of Airport Boulevard when two citizens came to the sergeant’s aid and helped restrain Guzman so he could be arrested, police reported.

Other officers then got to the scene and both the Delfin and Guzman were transported to Watsonville Community Hospital, where the sergeant was treated for abrasions and bruising on his head and released while Guzman was treated and transported to the Santa Cruz County Jail.

Guzman, of Watsonville, was booked on suspicion of battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, tampering with a vehicle and a probation violation, according to police.

The Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to call (831) 471-1151, the anonymous tip line at (831) 768-3544 or the investigations bureau at (831) 768-3352.