WPD releases body cam footage of controversial arrest
WATSONVILLE—Two days after Watsonville Police Department faced scrutiny for short videos posted to social media that showed one of its officers punching a man multiple times during an arrest on Tuesday, the department released the emergency dispatch calls and body-worn camera footage of the...
Video shows WPD officer punching man multiple times during arrest
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Police Department is facing criticism after a video was posted to social media showing one of its officers punching a man multiple times during an arrest on Tuesday night.
In a video posted to multiple social media platforms this week, two officers responding...
New candidates come forward for Nov. 8 election
WATSONVILLE—Five candidates have pulled papers to possibly run for Watsonville City Council in the upcoming Nov. 8 election, a key decision day that will see major turnover in South County leadership.
Current Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker is running for reelection in District 7, which encompasses...
Senator Laird speaks at Watsonville Rotary
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Rotary welcomed a special guest to its regular meeting Wednesday: John Laird, state senator for California’s District 17.
Laird, who was sworn in December 2020, was previously elected for the 27th District in 2002-06. He has served as California Secretary for Natural Resources, as...
New Watsonville city manager meets community
WATSONVILLE—Dozens of City of Watsonville employees, Watsonville residents, community organizers, elected leaders and nonprofit chiefs cycled through the Community Room at the Civic Plaza to welcome new city manager Rene Mendez on Wednesday evening.
Mendez, who took over as the city’s chief executive on July...
Watsonville Center for the Arts is the culmination of years of work
WATSONVILLE—A new arts and culture hub will soon open in downtown Watsonville, acting as a home base for a number of longstanding organizations, education programs and more.
Watsonville Center for the Arts, 375 Main St., is the culmination of decades of work by local groups...
Guy George selected as Farmer of the Year
WATSONVILLE—Guy George has been selected as the 2022 Farmer of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau.
The annual award is presented to farmer(s) who have contributed “beyond their normal farming duties to help the community,” according to SCFB.
George has been farming in...
Suspect arrested after ramming CHP vehicle
WATSONVILLE—A man was arrested Tuesday for an array of charges after, officers say, he drove recklessly through multiple counties and rammed into a California Highway Patrol vehicle during a pursuit.
CHP officer Alyssa Gutierrez said Hugo Alberto Cedillos Garcia, 28, is now in custody on...
County Fair Board plans to remove aging barns
WATSONVILLE—When thousands of attendees file into the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in September for the annual county fair, they can expect the east end of the grounds to look much different than years prior.
If all goes according to plan—and government agencies work at hyper-speed...
Man arrested in levee death
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...
