WATSONVILLE — A 20-year-old Watsonville man was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of felony sex crimes with a juvenile.
Watsonville Police said Edwin Sanchez Gutierrez was ordered from a car at gunpoint in Pajaro Plaza in front of the Big 5 Sporting Goods store.
Police said Gutierrez was 19 at the time of the alleged crime and that he lied about his age, telling the female minor victim that he was 17. They reportedly had a romantic relationship.
Once police were on the trail of the suspect, who was the front seat passenger of a gray Acura sedan with a male driver, police lit the car up and the driver pulled into Pajaro Plaza off of South Green Valley Road just past noon. Police surrounded the car with their guns drawn and ordered both men one at a time out of the vehicle. Both men cooperated.
Gutierrez was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail and charged with felony sex crimes with a minor. The driver was released.
The incident is still under investigation.
