Woman Swallows Meth Prior To Santa Cruz Arrest

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A woman who became violently ill while being questioned by Santa Cruz police about expired vehicle registration tags had swallowed methamphetamine, according to the SCPD. Santa Cruz resident Deborah Kludasch, 59, started sweating profusely, had a hard time breathing, and was vomiting after officers made contact with her recently in a parking lot in the 1900 block of Mission Street, according to the SCPD.

Police were investigating Kludasch because concerned community members noticed that the Volkswagen Vanagon she was in was attracting a lot of "seedy people and nefarious activity," according to the SCPD. The van's registration was more than a year expired, but the vehicle had 2019 tags on it, and Kludasch admitted to knowing the tags "were false," according to the SCPD.

While officers were talking with Kludasch, she became sick so emergency fire and medical personnel were called. According to the SCPD, "Kludasch admitted to swallowing her methamphetamine before police contact."

Paramedics transported Kludasch to an area hospital and SCPD impounded the van, police said.