Santa Cruz Police Release Stats On Halloween Arrests

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Santa Cruz Police Department reports that the 2019 Halloween celebration Thursday in downtown had no significant incidents of violence, but there were nearly two-dozen arrests and many citations issued.

An estimated 8,000-10,000 people visited downtown Santa Cruz to celebrate Halloween Thursday night, and there were approximately 100 law enforcement personnel on site, according to the SCPD. The celebration began downtown in the afternoon with hundreds of children and families turning out for trick or treat.

In total, 23 people were arrested in the downtown area. Nineteen of those arrests were for public intoxication, two were for DUI, one was for battery, and one was for felony possession of a billy club. All arrestees were adults.

The number of arrests was up from 17 in 2018.

There were also 59 citations handed out by police, mostly for open containers of alcohol.

The SCPD also kept busy throughout the rest of the city with over 200 calls for service between 5 p.m. Oct. 31 and 8 a.m. Nov. 1, the department reported.