Crime, Fire & Courts

Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested two subjects for conspiracy to commit a felony and being in possession of a stolen tractor.  One subject was also found to be a convicted felon in possession of methamphetamine and ammunition. On April 20 Sheriff’s Deputies got a report of...

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...

CLOSE CALL Firefighters douse hot spots in a brush fire that erupted on the 300 block of Amesti Road Friday. An official from CalFire said the 3:20pm brush fire climbed to two acres before firefighters from Pajaro Valley Fire District, Watsonville and Central Fire...

This story has been updated from a previous version with additional information. Watsonville Police on Friday afternoon arrested a Watsonville woman who allegedly robbed the Bay Federal Credit Union on the 1400 block of Main Street. Elizabeth Rojas, 34, was charged with robbery and attempted robbery....

A woman from Utah who went missing on Nov. 6 at Rio Del Mar State Beach has been found and is safe, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.  “Danielle Staley has been located and is safe and uninjured,” the SCSO said. Authorities did not...

An 18-year-old man who participated in the 2019 kidnapping, robbery and murder of tech executive and cannabis entrepreneur Tushar Atre was convicted Wednesday for his role in the crime. Prosecutors say Kaleb Charters dropped three accomplices off in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz,...

A 17-year-old male was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murdering Marcelino Calixto Pastrana behind a Castroville market on June 26.  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said a search is ongoing for a second juvenile suspect who they believe to be armed and dangerous. On July 16,...

Two people died in a solo-vehicle crash early Saturday morning north of Santa Cruz. The California Highway Patrol said a black 2015 Chrysler 200 was traveling south on Highway 1 around 4am at an undetermined speed. For reasons still under investigation, the Chrysler crossed into...

A fire late Wednesday morning in Watsonville destroyed two vehicles in the area of Brennan Street and Freedom Boulevard. Firefighters reported no injuries. The blaze erupted at about 10:15am in a 2024 Tesla and a Ford F150 van that were parked next to each other. Witnesses...

Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday arrested a Pajaro man for the murder of Watsonville resident Jesús Alfonso Duarte Figueroa, whose body was found buried along the Pajaro River levee in April. Bernardino Rickie Sanchez, 61, was booked into Monterey County Jail in lieu of...