Murder Trial, Rescue, Boy Shot: Santa Cruz County Police Logs

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Here's this week's collection of police, fire and court stories from around Santa Cruz County:

$100,000 In Merchandise Stolen: Santa Cruz Antique Shop Burglary

Judi Wyant Antiques lost more than $100,000 in merchandise during a burglary early Friday morning.

Heroin, Guns, Pills, $30,000 Cash Seized By Santa Cruz SO

The items were found after the Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at a home in Boulder Creek.

Gilroy Shooting Fallout: Watsonville Police Promote Gun Buyback

Watsonville Police is encouraging residents to stop by a Gilroy gun buyback event on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Cal Fire Crews Clearing Santa Cruz Mountain Forests To Prevent Wildfires

With California’s increasingly warm, dry and overgrown landscape, wildfire has become a perpetual danger.

DUI Crackdown: More Patrols This Month In Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Police Department will have extra officers on the streets, looking for signs of impaired driving.

DUI Crackdown: Checkpoint, More Patrols This Month In Watsonville

Additional officers will be patrolling the city from Dec. 13 until the New Year, the department announced.

Stolen Items Found In Car With Obstructed License Plate

Deputies found the mail in the passenger seat after a caller reported a car with tape obstructing its license plate number.

Santa Cruz: High Surf Advisory Issued, 22-Foot Breakers Possible

Officials urge extra caution near the coast from Thursday afternoon to early Saturday morning amid a high surf advisory.

Watch: Man Rescued After Falling Onto Davenport Beach From Cliff

Multiple agencies responded to save the man, who appeared to be suffering from the onset of hypothermia, after he fell onto the beach.

Watsonville Man Murdered 4-Year-Old And Gang Rival, Jury Finds

Jurors found Michael Escobar guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of a 4-year-old girl and 33-year-old rival gang member.

Watsonville School Shooting Threat: Police Arrest 13-Year-Old Boy

Police believe the teenager is the lone person behind a threat that indicated a shooting would happen at a middle school Wednesday morning.

'Act Of Terror': CHP Spends 100s Of Hours On Projectile Case

Forty-eight people driving along Highway 101 near Prunedale have been hit since February, CHP told KSBW.

New Santa Cruz Jail Body Scanner Nabs Contraband In First Week

A lighter, meth and inmate communications were found upon a body scan of three inmates.

Gunman On Loose After Juvenile Shot, Hospitalized In Santa Cruz

The victim's injuries were not life threatening and he was treated at Dominican Hospital. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday morning.

Live On The Outskirts Of Santa Cruz? Be Wary Of Wildfires

The city wants people who live along the outer edges of Santa Cruz to ensure they're complying with new regulations in 2020.
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Watsonville Murder Trial: Closing Arguments Begin

Prosecutors argue that Michael Escobar murdered a 4-year-old girl and 33-year-old man affiliated with a gang.

Woman's 90th Birthday Wish: New Police Dog For Santa Cruz

Instead of birthday gifts, Joanne Parker's pals pulled together $2,700 — which was donated to the SCPD K-9 fund.

Send Santa Letters At The Sheriff's Office

Letters can be dropped off in the Sheriff's Office headquarters. Sheriff Jim Hart's wishlist? A safe community, new jail and DNA lab.

Weekend Shootings: Santa Cruz Police Seek Public's Help

The shootings were reported Sunday around 9 p.m. in the area of Third St., Front St. and Cowell Beach, according to the SCPD.

Dense Fog For Early Morning Commute: Santa Cruz County

Fog is forecast to blanket a good portion of the Bay Area and parts of the Central California coast.

Former UCSC Student Arrested On Multiple Drug Charges

Cash, psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, Adderall, marijuana and cocaine were seized, campus police said.

Stolen Items Returned: Security Camera Films Santa Cruz Burglary
Items stolen from the garage of a Santa Cruz County home last week were found thanks to surveillance camera footage.