Seven people have been arrested in Watsonville recently following a string of shots fired, chases and searches.
The most recent arrest came on the evening of March 1 when a Watsonville Police officer on routine patrol at River Park recovered a firearm and arrested a Watsonville gang member.
While patrolling Riverside Drive, the officer noticed two people at River Park after-hours. When police contacted the 16-year-old gang member and attempted to search him, he ran from police and ignored their commands to stop.
Officers caught the suspect and found a gun in his pocket. Police then learned the suspect had prior firearm-related offenses.
The suspect was booked into Juvenile Hall on multiple charges, including carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a loaded firearm, resisting arrest, gang activity, and being a minor in possession of a gun.
On Feb. 26, 31-year-old Jose Alberto Sanchez tried to outrun Watsonville Police after a traffic stop. Police initially tried to pull over Sanchez’s car on East Lake Avenue but he drove off, then leapt from the car and fled on foot, WPD said. Police caught up with him and found drugs and a loaded gun inside the vehicle.
Sanchez was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drugs for sale.
On the evening of Feb. 26, just before 5 p.m., a California Highway Patrol officer spotted a white Buick sedan committing several traffic violations on northbound Highway 1 near Larkin Valley Road. When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit ensued, leading police to the city of Watsonville. That’s when Watsonville police deployed a spike strip and disabled the car on Sudden Street. Two passengers who tried to flee were apprehended, with one of them carrying a stolen handgun.
The driver ran into a nearby home on Sudden Street, where officers from WPD, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the CHP set up a perimeter and eventually flushed the suspect out. A search led to the discovery of two shotguns and an assault rifle connected to the Buick’s occupants.
The Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reductions and Enforcement and Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team also played a role in the arrests.
Two male suspects from Watsonville, 23 and 24, and a 17-year-old male from Salinas, were arrested and face multiple felony charges, including felony evading and possession of stolen firearms.
On the morning of Feb. 24, an officer attempted a traffic stop on Blackburn Street when the occupants fled on foot. While fleeing, the driver, 33-year-old Salvador Garcia, ignored officers’ commands to stop.
WPD officers eventually found and arrested Garcia. Nearby, officers found a bag with a loaded gun and bullets. Garcia was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon and resisting arrest.
A 31-year-old man is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds after what Watsonville Police believe was a gang-related shooting Feb. 18.
Police got reports of shots fired on the 100 block of Ginos Court around 6:30pm. Minutes later, the victim showed up at the hospital, said WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido.
Police found a trail of spent shell casings near the shooting scene and seized two firearms. After securing a search warrant for the home on Ginos Court, police found an additional three firearms and ammunition.
A 16-year-old male at the home was arrested on gun-related charges and booked into Juvenile Hall.
The victim was taken to an out-of-county trauma center and is expected to live.
“While no arrests have yet been made in connection to this shooting, our detectives are following up on leads with help from regional law enforcement partners,” Pulido said.
On Feb. 17, WPD got reports of a drive-by shooting on the 400 block of Second Street shortly after 10pm. When WPD officers responded to the neighborhood they found that a home had been struck twice by bullets. No one was injured.
Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to call Detective Robert Strong at 831.768.3355.
thank you detective Strong. you have a good name for the job. more weapons and drugs off our streets is ALWAYS good news. thanks , Pajaronian, for this report.
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It’s unfortunate that Watsonville, a small city, is facing such high levels of crime. A significant factor contributing to this issue is the ongoing departure of officers from the Watsonville Police Department. Over the past two years, at least 15 sworn officers, including captains, sergeants, and officers, have left. Currently, three more officers are in the hiring process with other agencies. Watsonville PD has gained a reputation among neighboring agencies as the “sinking ship.” Chief Zamora has cultivated a toxic work environment, leading to a large-scale internal investigation. Despite being fully aware of the department’s struggles, City Manager Tamara Vides has yet to take action to address the situation.
As someone who works for a nearby agency, I can confirm that Chief Zamora has severely impacted the Watsonville Police Department. What was once a top-tier agency has now become one that many officers are eager to leave. According to the WPD POA, the situation has worsened to the point where they are offering top-step pay to officers who are considering leaving, just to get them to stay. This means that even officers with little experience are being offered senior officer pay to remain with the department. Additionally, the city is offering a $30,000 hiring bonus and top-step pay to attract lateral officers, but their efforts have largely been unsuccessful. The few officers who have joined the department are coming from agencies with low pay and limited opportunities for advancement. Chief Zamora has minimized the seriousness of the hiring crisis, dismissing the concerns of departing officers as nothing more than “a bunch of cry babies.”
I agree. I’ve heard from multiple sources that WPD has a longstanding culture of harassment, with officers accused of targeting female colleagues, sending explicit photos, and fostering an environment of unchecked machismo. Years ago, reporter Felix Cortez investigated these issues, yet nothing has changed. The most damning part? Chief Zamora was there then, climbed the ranks, and still allowed this culture to persist. He didn’t just turn a blind eye—he actively protected his officers and predator buddies.
You can’t blame things on Chief Jorge Zamora you people will always talk bad on a person who is in lead but its a hard position to be on top of all things so please don’t attack!
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s true it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I wonder when Zamora will stop protecting his inner circle and let the media know they have officer Kane out on leave for discharging a firearm inside a dwelling and failing to report it. Not to mention the other two officers present that haven’t been placed on leave who also failed to report and are now the head of their POA.
It’s nothing compared to the officers who have been accused of sexual harassment over the years—including one who was criminally investigated by Monterey County. Kane appears to be just a scapegoat, a diversion from WPD’s real, deep-rooted issues. Enough with the excuses—own up to the truth.
I wouldn’t blame the chief.
Right when violence rates where dropping unexpected activity mostly guns and young little 13 year olds gang banging ! Who goes that ??? I truly believe No parent ever should claim no knowledge of their teens gang activity parents need to be held responsible for not reporting these acts and those older adults who recruit young ones to ruin their lives . I believe some sick Adults out there are recruiting young lives to violence and gangs .
The data clearly indicates a decrease in the crime rate, which is great for our city. I want to recognize the patrol officers who show up every day, responding to calls despite being understaffed. There are times when the city is only covered by one Sergeant and three officers, which raises concerns about officer safety. Despite these challenges, they continue to effectively serve the community. However, I can’t say the same about Chief Zamora and his administrative team, who work from 8 AM to 5 PM. They are disconnected from the reality of what happens after hours. While the administration is aware of staffing shortages, they’ve never stepped out of their offices to assist with calls for service, even the more routine ones, at least to show support. For anyone interested in joining the department, there are currently 16 openings, with possibly three more becoming available in the next two months.
While it’s one thing to mention two officers as leaders of the POA. It is more important that both were primary witnesses in Officer Kane’s accusations in previous internal investigations. Oh and one was her then boyfriend who was deemed credible in those investigations. Maybe his knowledge of an illegal act should now be considered and those investigations reflect his now knows character.
Indeed time to open up the can. It’s funny how officer Kane committed a crime by discharging a firearm and the Watsonville Police department refuses to open a criminal investigation on her. The Watsonville police department is now taking liability by failing to conduct a criminal investigation when a crime was committed. It’s also true as stated above Zamora continues to protect Kane since the day she was hired even though she did not pass a psychological examination everyone is aware of that. Yes it’s true. Strong and Collin’s covered and backed Kane during her previous IA’s and had knowledge of her criminal acts. They all admitted to the incident occurring and conspired to cover it up. They definitely weren’t going to mention she discharged a firearm. Almost feels like a police gang.
It’s unfortunate that this forum has shifted toward accusations of misconduct among fellow officers. The real issue here should be Chief Zamora’s leadership within the Watsonville Police Department. While a community member rightly pointed out that the violence in our community cannot be solely blamed on the Chief, it’s important to understand that as the head of the department, Chief Zamora and his staff are ultimately responsible for creating an environment that encourages officers to stay and work for the city. When asked why officers were unhappy at his agency, Chief Zamora responded with, “You’re not a tree, you can move.” This was the wrong message to send when trying to maintain adequate staffing levels. Watsonville PD has been without a fully functioning Special Response Team for some time. Additionally, the department has struggled to fully staff the Detective Bureau, the Auto Theft Task Force, and the SRO program.
The disconnect between the Chief’s leadership and the experienced officers who have left or are planning to leave is deeply concerning. This ongoing officer shortage has led to longer response times and a reduction in proactive policing. It’s also important to note that the department cannot take credit for all the recent gun recoveries in Watsonville. I’d like to express my gratitude to outside agencies like CHP and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team for their crucial support in making Watsonville safer. These agencies have been instrumental in recovering many of the firearms found within the city limits.
Chief Zamora is the reason everybody is leaving the precinct. He’s the one that needs to be investigated….