Santa Cruz Wavers Under Broken Trust
Over 200 community members and leaders gathered at City Hall on Tuesday night, and filled the room to maximum occupancy while others sat outside and viewed the meeting through glass windows or watched from other rooms via livestream broadcasting. Santa Cruz City Council ruled unanimously…
Officer Who Fatally Shot Sean Arlt Won’t Be Charged
BREAKING: Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) Officer Erik Bailey, who fatally shot 32-year-old Sean Arlt, will not be charged, said Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell in a press conference. Bailey was sworn into the SCPD in May 2015. Rosell said the officer was…
Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Move Ahead with Body Cameras
Body cameras are becoming the new normal for law enforcement in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office began rolling out body-worn cameras in late December, and both the Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) and UC Santa Cruz Police Department (UCSC PD) are creating…
Local Man Killed by Police
Early Sunday morning at 3:30 a.m., four Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) officers responded to a call about a disturbance on the 200 block of Chace Street on the Westside. The resident called 911 saying someone, later identified as Sean Arlt, was pounding on his…
150th Sparks Celebration
The savory aroma of Paradise Dogs, a hot dog booth on Main Beach, wafted through the air, mixing with the sounds of local funk music and conversation. Throughout the day of Oct. 1, thousands of community members stood on the makeshift stage located next to…
White Supremacy Package Reported
White supremacy packages were reported on campus — at Merrill College, College Nine/Ten, McHenry library and the KZSC radio station — as well as throughout the city of Santa Cruz on Sept. 28 and 29. “What we are trying to understand is the purpose behind…
UCSC Student Injured in Hit-and-Run
At approximately 4:35 p.m. yesterday, a 21-year-old UCSC student was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Bay and High Streets. The driver of the vehicle, Juan Castillo, 33, fled the scene and was apprehended near Mission and Chestnut Streets. Castillo was arrested for…
Increase in UCSC Related Drug and Violence Crimes
In five weeks, there have been seven arrests involving UC Santa Cruz students, including weapons felony charges, three guns confiscated along with knives, clubs and stun guns, and numerous drug-related arrests. Since 4/20, there have been three non-fatal drug overdoses at UCSC. “That’s a lot for…
Capitola: First City in Santa Cruz County to Adopt Body Cameras
Capitola police officers will be equipped with 20 body cameras and nine vehicle cameras come July, with the help of a $100,501 state grant. Many community members are celebrating the purchase as a step toward ensuring public protection, but some argue that body cameras are…
Community Responds to Claims Made About Armored Vehicle
After accepting a grant to purchase a Lenco BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) on Dec. 9, Santa Cruz City Council continues to face opposition from community members and organizations including Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization (SCRAM). The justification for the acquisition of…