The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) and UC Santa Cruz Police Department (UCSCPD) document all reported crimes in the city and on campus. All information is provided by the SCPD and UCSCPD. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
{City}
Women attacked by intoxicated stranger, then rammed with car twice
Feb. 4, 12:36 a.m. — Officers were dispatched to Bay and California Streets on a report of a traffic accident causing injury. The car’s two female occupants reported that they had been in a liquor store when an unfamiliar woman, Nour Daniel, 23, got into a verbal argument with them. The victims then got into their car and drove away to avoid a fight. They were driving down Younglove Avenue when a vehicle containing Daniel and two men, identified as John Dively, 36, and driver Maurico Perez, 27, allegedly rammed their vehicle twice. The second collision at Bay and California disabled the victims’ car. Police say Daniel then got out of the car and began to hit the driver. The suspects then fled, but were apprehended not far from the scene. All three suspects were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail: Daniel on charges of battery and public intoxication, Perez for assault with a deadly weapon and drunk driving, and Divily for public intoxication and a probation violation.
Double murder suspect arrested in Central Valley
Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. — Santa Cruz police detectives worked in cooperation with several California law enforcement agencies to apprehend a double homicide suspect in the Central Valley town of Mendota. Jaime Galdalmez-Guevara, 18, was arrested in connection with the double homicide of two men in a lower Ocean Street area apartment on Jan. 23. He made his first court appearance Tuesday, when a judge set bail at $1 million. Police say that Guevara has a criminal record that includes gang involvement and heroin sales. He is scheduled to enter a plea on Feb. 24.
UCSC student found dead near railroad tracks on Westside
Feb. 7, 9:08 a.m. — Officers responded to a call reporting that a body had been found on the rail tracks near Almar Avenue. A woman jogging noticed a man laying by the side of the railroad tracks and ran to a nearby fire station for help. When firefighters arrived, they determined that the man, later identified as UCSC fourth-year Benjamin Quaye, 21, had sustained a fatal head injury. According to detectives, Quaye had been drinking the night before at a local Almar Shopping Center pub, but bar staff called police around midnight because he was allegedly causing a disturbance. Quaye left the pub before officers arrived, and while walking alone by the rail line, slipped down the gravel embankment and struck his head. Police consider the death an alcohol-related accident and foul play is not suspected.
{Campus}
Suspected break-in at Porter
Feb. 5, 9:27 p.m. — Students reported seeing a male, 5’8” wearing a beige hoodie, climb through a widow a Porter College B Dorm. Officers responded and made contact with the room’s occupant who reported nothing missing.
Runaway taken into custody while trying to visit girlfriend
Feb. 6, 11:34 a.m. — A 16-year-old runaway from Washington traveled to the UCSC campus to see his girlfriend. He had fled home and was reported as a runaway juvenile in Washington state, where officers received a tip that he might be headed to UCSC. The young man was found by UCSCPD and taken to a group home until arrangements can be made for his return to Washington.
