Crime & Safety
Police Arrest Suspect In Santa Cruz Shooting
BREAKING: Police said they discovered a drug operation and large weapons cache when they raided the Santa Cruz home.
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz police said an arrest in connection with a shooting last month has also led to the discovery of a drug operation and weapons cache. Police said they have arrested 27-year-old Deshawn Hatfield on suspicion of attempted homicide after initially arresting him and an associate on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and methamphetamine for sale.
"It was the great teamwork and effort of our detectives and Neighborhood Enforcement Team who pieced together facts and circumstances leading to the identification and apprehension of the suspect which then also allowed us to shut down a drug operation," Santa Cruz police Chief Andrew Mills said in a statement.
Hatfield and an associate, Terrence Tolliver, were both arrested around 1 a.m. on July 31 by Santa Cruz police. Tolliver was also arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded, stolen firearm and violating his probation.
Hatfield and Tolliver had been identified by investigators as persons of interest in the days and weeks following the early morning shooting on July 16.
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Police interviewed Hatfield and Tolliver after their July 31 arrest and determined that Hatfield was the main suspect in the shooting. Tolliver was released pending further investigation.
On Wednesday, police raided a residence on the 100 block of Kennan Street, where officers found a loaded sawed-off rifle, a homemade shotgun, ammunition, extended magazines, a stun gun, money counter, 20 grams of methamphetamine, a pound of cocaine, 14 ounces of crack cocaine and 5 pounds of marijuana.
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The shooting Hatfield is considered the shooter in was called in at 2:09 a.m. on July 16 in 700 block of Pacific Avenue, according to police. Witnesses described a male victim who was shot in the neck and taken to a hospital by a bystander, police said. He was flown from the hospital to a trauma center for treatment and has since recovered, police said.
Investigators recovered a .22-caliber casing at the crime scene on Pacific Avenue. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Santa Cruz police at (831) 420-5820.
By Bay City News
Photo via Santa Cruz Police Department
Image #2 Deshawn Hatfield, Image #3 Terrence Tolliver
