The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) documents all reported crimes in the city. The most recent of these incidents are logged here. All information is provided by the SCPD.
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Woman caught stealing yogurt, sics dog on security guards
Jan. 20, 3:54 p.m. — Security guards at Trader Joe’s caught a 21-year-old Santa Cruz woman, Natalie Gambelin, stealing yogurt and called Santa Cruz Police. Gambelin ran out of the store but was tackled by security. As she was being taken back into the store, she called her dog, who was outside, to attack security. The large dog ran toward the security guards, growling and barking. Security rushed the woman into a side door of the store, unhurt. When officers arrived, Gambelin was arrested for burglary, being under the influence of a controlled substance, a probation violation, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Vandals flood Mission Street office with garden hose
Jan. 21, 8:58 a.m. — Officers responded to Karon Properties on the 1100 block of Mission Street for a report of vandalism. Sometime Thursday night, vandals threw a rock through a window, fed a garden hose through the hole, and turned the water on, flooding the office. The water caused about $2,000 in damage to the office floor. The motive behind the flooding remains unknown.
Woman robbed downtown
Jan. 21, 10:48 a.m. — A 25-year-old woman was robbed at Mission and Laurent streets. She told responding officers that she was attacked by an unknown female suspect, described as a Latina in her late 20s or early 30s, about 5’6” and 160 pounds, wearing all-black clothing. The suspect approached the woman and grabbed her purse. When the victim tried to fight back, she was knocked to the ground and kicked in the cheek. The suspect escaped with the victim’s purse.
Double Homicide in Lower Ocean Neighborhood
Jan. 23, 4:51 a.m. — Officers responded to 145 Canfield St. #6 for a report of shots fired. Officers found two men in the living room of the apartment dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Police identified the men as Alejandro Nava-Gonzalez, 21, and Oscar Ventura, 18, both Mexican immigrants. Police said that about 10 people were in the apartment for a small gathering when the shooting occurred. A judge has issued an arrest warrant but had the arrestee’s name sealed, as police are still seeking information regarding the motive of the killings, including possible gang ties. The double homicide marks the second and third Santa Cruz homicide victims of 2010. There were a total of four homicides in Santa Cruz for 2009. (read more…)
