Crime, Fire & Courts

Capitola police are asking for the public’s help after a Soquel man was arrested in connection with an investigation involving children at Capitola Beach. Derek Martin Johnson, 63, was arrested June 6 after a concerned citizen reported that a man appeared to be taking photographs...

Watsonville residents will have two opportunities this month to help shape the future of public safety services in the city. The Watsonville Police and Fire departments are hosting community town hall meetings to gather public input on priorities for emergency response, public safety services and...

The City of Watsonville presented the Mayor’s Proclamation to Mental Health Liaison Reina Valencia during the city council meeting on May 26.  Mayor KrIstal Salcido handed the framed document to Valencia in recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month “for her dedication and continued...

A Watsonville man convicted of fatally shooting his roommate with an assault-style rifle in 2023 was sentenced Monday to more than 75 years to life in state prison. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy sentenced Hector Manuel Rocha on June 1 to 75...

Following the March 18 arrest of a 24-year-old Watsonville man for unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl, investigators have now added more charges that have expanded across state lines. Darwin Linares was initially arrested by Watsonville Police in March after he was found in...

A 21-year-old Watsonville man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of threatening a mass shooting at an unspecified Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation ceremony. Moises Resendiz was charged with making criminal threats, a felony. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail and was...

Monterey County sheriff’s detectives arrested two men and recovered more than $300,000 in stolen construction equipment tied to an organized theft ring targeting local businesses, authorities said Thursday. Jaime Sanchez Valdez, 50, of Salinas, was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of theft by...

May 12 • A man was arrested on the 400 block of Airport Boulevard at 7:20pm for vandalizing the 7-Eleven store.• A 38-year-old man was arrested on the 1500 block of Main Street at 12:25pm for trespassing. May 13 • A 24-year-old man was seen nodding off...

A 58-year-old Santa Rosa man died in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz May 18.  California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the man was driving a black 2017 Honda Pilot southbound on Highway 1 north of Scott Creek around 12:48pm....