Crime, Fire & Courts

Watsonville Police process evidence Thursday night following a car stop on Hushbeck Street just after 7:30pm. While police managed to take the driver into custody, two people fled down Center Street on foot. Police found a handgun at the scene and recovered a stolen...

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...

An at-risk 12-year-old girl who went missing early on the morning of July 6 has been found and is safe. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Erika Vazquez said Santa Cruz Police located her on July 7. Willowwind Crowbear was last seen Monday morning around 1:45am on the...

The 12-year-old girl who took her mother’s car and went on the run Saturday—and her 12-year-old boyfriend who joined her—have both been found In Santa Clara and are safe, according to Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido. Neveah Castillo reportedly drove off in a light blue...

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...

A Watsonville man was arrested for possession an illegal gun early Sunday morning following a traffic stop by the California Highway Patrol. CHP officer Israel Murillo said officers on patrol in Santa Cruz made a traffic stop on a Mercedes for a vehicle code violation....

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...

The man who was struck by a pickup as he drove into its path on an electric scooter Wednesday afternoon has died from his injuries. Around 1:50pm, Watsonville Police and Firefighters got a report of a man that was struck by a Dodge Big Horn...

Watsonville police warned Wednesday that a mountain lion was seen behind 1075 Main Street heading toward Harkins Slough Road.  The department said that residents should remain alert, especially when walking in open or rural areas. Animal control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife...