Death Toll Rises, Community Mourns: Santa Cruz County Police Log

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — The following is a week's collection of police, court and fire stories from around Santa Cruz County:

Boat Fire Victims From Santa Cruz County: Toll Rises
The county is mourning local residents who were aboard the ill-fated Conception that caught fire Monday. The tragedy claimed 34 lives.

Alcohol, Tobacco Sales To Minors Targeted In Santa Cruz CountyThe sheriff's office used an undercover minor decoy who attempted to buy tobacco and alcohol products from eight South County retailers.

Illegal Trash Burning Caused Deer Fire Near Boulder Creek
One firefighter was injured, an outbuilding was destroyed and several more buildings were threatened by the blaze.

16-Year-Old Alleged Gang Member Arrested In Watsonville
The teen was found in possession of a loaded gun and drugs that were packaged for sale, according to the Watsonville Police Department.

IDs Made In California Boat Fire: Safety Concerns Raised
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office released the first official list of names of the California boat fire, Friday morning.

Domestic Disturbance, Fire In Santa Cruz Leads To 2 Arrests
Santa Cruz police officers and fire crews were called to 314 Jessie Street for a reported domestic disturbance and a fire.

Fire In Storey Street Home 'Unintentional': Santa Cruz Fire Dept.
Although the fire remained under investigation, it was classified as unintentional and not suspicious in nature.

Brush Fire Forces Road Closure Near Boulder Creek
The blaze, dubbed the Deer Fire, was reported Tuesday around 3:30 p.m.

Nursing Asst. Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Hospital Patient: SC
Peter Francis Dunne, 46, of Santa Cruz was booked into county jail on felony sexual assault charges.

Watsonville Man Killed In Crash Near Rio Del Mar
The crash was reported at 9:08 p.m. Tuesday at Larkin Valley Road and Xanthos Drive.

Body Recovered In Big Sur Crash ID'd As Capitola Woman
Kristen Kendall's Honda Civic went off a cliff Aug. 24 around 6:13 p.m., about 1 mile south of Esalen near mile marker 32 in Big Sur.

Watsonville Man Accused Of Sexually Abusing Teen Girl
Rickey Crawford was being held at the Santa Cruz Co. Jail on $50,000 bail and faces several charges regarding the sexual abuse of a minor.

Mourners Name Boat Fire Victims, Including Some In Santa Cruz
The Santa Barbara County coroner's bureau has not officially released the names of the victims, but mourners are.

Boat Fire: Students, Families Who Died Mourned In Santa Cruz
Students and families from Pacific Collegiate School, and a former City of Santa Cruz employee, are among the dead.

Body Found In SF Bay Identified As Aptos Man
Bryan Hirano, 42, of Aptos led an Alameda County police chase, crashed his vehicle, then headed to the water, an official said.

Cold Case Homicide: Suspect Arrested In 2008 Watsonville Killing
Jorge Trujillo Rodriguez is suspected in the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Leonardo Barajas in Watsonville in October 2008.

Shooting In Santa Cruz: 1 Wounded, Public's Help Sought
This shooting does not appear to have any connection to the recent gang related shootings in the downtown area, police said.

Keep Bars Open Later In California: Debate Over 'Last Call Bill'
Existing laws prohibit the sale of alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., but Senate Bill 58 aims to change that.