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Watsonville
January 2, 2026

Registered sex offender arrested again

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against a registered sex offender who recently exposed himself to a woman in Watsonville. James Dineen, 27, is accused of exposing himself to a woman walking near Center Street while parked in his gray Toyota Camry,...

Photo story: New four-way stop

NEW STOP A new four-way stop is now in place at Tuttle Avenue and Lake Village Drive. Watsonville Police say the change will help slow traffic and make the intersection safer for everyone, whether driving, walking, or biking.

Car stop leads to stolen gun, drugs, arrest

Monterey County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Castroville man Wednesday during a car stop for possession of a stolen handgun and a half pound of methamphetamine. Around 12:24pm a deputy conducted a car stop for vehicle code violations in the 10700 block of Merritt Street in...

Man arrested after trying to kidnap girl

A Castroville man is facing kidnapping charges after he allegedly grabbed a 10-year-old girl who was walking home Friday. Salvador Hernandez-Saldivar, 61, was charged with kidnapping, assault with intent to commit a felony, child endangerment and annoying or molesting a minor under 18, Monterey County...

Bicyclist dies in hit-and-run crash

A 51-year-old male bicyclist died early Tuesday morning in a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of South Green Valley Road and Carey Avenue.  Watsonville Police said the bicyclist, who has not been identified, died at the hospital Wednesday night. The crash happened shortly after 6am. The...

Brush fire scorches two acres

firefighters douse a grass fire on the 300 block of Amesti Road Friday.
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...

Watsonville Police chief nabs armed suspect

Watsonville Police Chief David Rodriguez on Nov. 25 arrested an armed Watsonville gang member carrying a backpack with drugs and ammunition after a brief chase. Issac Sigala, 18, is facing several felony charges including illegally possessing a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang and...

Two arrested on guns and ammo charges

A Watsonville man was arrested on the night of Feb. 26 after he tried to outrun Watsonville Police during a traffic stop. When WPD made a traffic stop on East Lake Avenue, 31-year-old Jose Alberto Sanchez leapt from the car and fled on foot, WPD...

Update: Dead body found buried along Pajaro River identified

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a body that was found along the Pajaro River levee west of the Main Street Bridge that connects the community of Pajaro to Watsonville. On Monday the Sheriff's Office identified the man as 36-year-old Jesus Alfonso Duarte Figueroa...

Third man convicted in 2019 Atre murder

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,...
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County releases draft battery storage ordinance

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 will review proposed rules governing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are expected...