Shooting Arrests; Kidnapping Scams: Santa Cruz County Police Logs

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Here's a collection of police, fire and courts news from around the county this week:

Man Arrested In Santa Cruz County Slaying

On June 14 deputies found a man in the Santa Cruz Mountains, dead of a gunshot wound.

Santa Cruz Firefighters Stepped In To Fight Gilroy Crews Fire

Firefighters from across Santa Cruz County are coming home after battling the 5,500-acre Crews Fire north of Gilroy.

Man Charged With Santa Cruz Shooting

Police arrived to the scene of the June shooting to find a victim losing a significant amount of blood after getting shot in the leg.

9 Santa Cruz Police Officers Could Be Eliminated: Report

All City of Santa Cruz employee unions have agreed to reduce costs except the police department, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Kidnapping Scammers Target Watsonville

Scammers falsely claim to have kidnapped a family member and ask them to wire money for ransom, police said.

Watsonville Police Cadet, 17, Charged With Sexual Battery

The 17-year-old civilian was also charged with false imprisonment, police said.

Deputy Arrested In Pleasanton, Accused Of Smuggling Meth: Report

The arrest was the culmination of a two-month investigation after a tip that a deputy was helping smuggle meth into a Santa Clara Co. jail.

Police Investigating Noose-Shaped Rope Hanging Near UC Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz police have released a video of someone hanging the rope on the sign.

Man Charged With Fireworks-Related Arson

Investigators believe the man was involved in an arson case last month near Soquel High School.

Watsonville Man Facing Child Sex Abuse Charge

He was arrested Friday at his Watsonville home.

See: Sgt. Gutzwiller Honored A Month After Line-Of-Duty Death

"He laid down his life for the community, his smile would light up any room," dispatchers said in honor of the fallen sergeant.

Knife-Wielding Man Screamed Slurs At Black Man, Police Say

The man insisted a white officer take him into custody and continued saying racial slurs as he was booked into jail, police said.

Quake Rattles Area South Of Hollister Monday

The small earthquake's epicenter was south of Hollister and east of Salinas.

Watsonville Police Received Hundreds Of Illegal Fireworks Calls

It was a busy Fourth of July for Watsonville police officers and firefighters alike.

Car Overturns On Highway 1

The car hit the center divide and overturned on the shoulder in Santa Cruz County, California Highway Patrol said.

Gunfire Narrowly Misses 10-Year-Old Girl On 4th Of July

A man was firing his gun at the ground in celebration of the 4th of July, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said.