54.4 F
Watsonville
January 21, 2026

Sheriff’s office identifies teen whose remains were found in 1995

Skeletal remains found in 1995 off of Highway 129 near Aromas have been identified as 13-year-old Laura O’Malley from Queens, New York, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. On March 22, 1995, partial skeletal remains were discovered in a riverbed off Highway 129...

Fresno man found guilty in 1991 double-murder

An 86-year-old Fresno man was convicted on Aug. 26 for a double-murder committed more than three decades ago in Prunedale. According  to Monterey County Sheriff spokesman Andres Rosas, Ira Ulyesses Bastian murdered George Smith, 67, and Eva Thompson, 79 in a Prunedale restaurant on Nov....

 Invasive mosquito identified in Boulder Creek

An invasive mosquito that has the potential to spread several dangerous diseases has been found recently in Boulder Creek, and the Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control department is “initiating a full response” to get a bead on the extent of the problem...

Body found along Pajaro River Levee

The discovery of a man's body along Pajaro River levee Thursday has prompted an investigation by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were dispatched for a report of a body at 5am. A forensic examination on Friday determined the person was a male, but officials did...

Body found in the Pajaro River

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating after a body was found floating in the Pajaro River Sunday just beyond the levee, shown here behind a farm on the 100 block of Riverside Road near Blackburn Street.  Sgt. Zach West of the Santa Cruz County...

Police name burglary suspect nabbed in vacant home

Watsonville Police have identified the suspect who was arrested Oct. 3 after he holed up inside a vacant home on Clifford Avenue.  Javier Diaz Baruc, 30, was charged with burglary, resisting arrest, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with multiple outstanding warrants for...

Truck collides with Highway 1 bridge

Highway 1 was shut down for four hours early Monday when a dump truck slammed into the Freedom Boulevard overcrossing to Highway 1 in Aptos.  The California Highway Patrol said the truck was traveling northbound on Highway 1 at an unspecified time. The truck’s bed...

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...

Watsonville police search for church vandal

Watsonville Police are asking for help in identifying a man who was caught on a security camera hurling a brick at a stained-glass window at St. Patrick’s Church March 14. WPD said the man, clad in white pants and a blue jacket, caused more than...

K9 officer helps find loaded handgun; man arrested

A man was arrested late last month on multiple felony charges after he ditched a loaded gun and ran from Capitola Police. The incident began when Capitola Police conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations near the Capitola Mall. As the stop began, a...
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow

Body discovered during search for 73-year-old hiker

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office announced the discovery of a body in a densely-wooded area off of Ice Cream Grade on the north...