Arrests Down, Citations Up at Santa Cruz Halloween Festivities

With up to 20,000 people attending Halloween festivities in Santa Cruz on Saturday night, police said that arrests were down but citations were up compared to last year.

Police officers handled 423 calls for service during the festivities and made 27 arrests, including 20 who were taken into custody on suspicion of public intoxication.

Police also issued 73 citations, including 33 for people carrying open containers of alcohol.

The Santa Cruz Police Department said they had assistance from personnel from all of Santa Cruz County’s law enforcement agencies, as well as the California Highway Patrol.

Saturday night’s operation also included close monitoring of several known gang members in an effort to prevent violence, according to police.

--Bay City News Service, photo via Shutterstock