Transients Arrested At Gunpoint After 'High-Risk' Stop in Stolen Truck

SANTA CRUZ, CA - Two transients were arrested after traveling in a stolen truck that ended with a “high-risk” stop Tuesday morning in Santa Cruz, police said.

Jennifer Howard and Perry Greer, both 40, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen bicycle and possession of narcotic paraphernalia, according to police.

Dispatchers received a call from a person who saw his stolen blue 1988 Ford pickup truck parked at a restaurant around 11 a.m., police said.

Officers were on their way to the business when they learned the truck left and was heading north on Morrissey Boulevard, according to police.

The victim was following the truck and relayed the vehicle’s route to dispatchers, police said.

The officers caught up with the truck and followed it to Branciforte Avenue at the state Highway 1 overpass near Fairmount Avenue, according to police.

The truck came to a stop and the officers ordered the suspects to exit the vehicle at gunpoint, police said.

Howard was identified as the driver and Greer was a back seat passenger in the truck’s bed covered with a camper shell, according to police.

They were arrested and allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Many items were found in the back of the truck, including a black Specialized Bicycle Components-brand mountain bike, which police found out was stolen in a November home burglary, according to police.

The pair was also found with a large pit bull that was placed into the custody of Santa Cruz County Animal Care and Control Services, police said.

Howard was also arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license and Greer had violated his probation, according to police.

They were both booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, police said.

-- Bay City News Service, photo courtesy of the Santa Cruz Police Department and Tarmo Hannula