Reward offered, video released in kidnapping case
PLEASURE POINT—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday released a video of the suspects who allegedly kidnapped a man from his Pleasure Point home last month and then killed him.
Tushar Atre, 50, was kidnapped from his upscale oceanfront home on Oct. 1 around...
First coronavirus case confirmed in Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Health officials on Saturday announced that the first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the county.
Officials are not releasing any information about the patient, except to say he or she is “resting comfortably” at home and does not require...
Two murder suspects escape Monterey County jail
SALINAS—Two inmates escaped from the Monterey County Adult Detention Facility early Saturday.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said 21-year-old Santos Samuel Fonseca and 20-year-old Jonathan Salazar were both awaiting trial on unrelated murder charges along with numerous other felony charges.
The MCSO said Saturday it was...
Santa Cruz County asks visitors to leave as fires spread down mountains
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center is requesting that all tourists and visitors occupying local overnight accommodations such as hotels, motels and vacation rentals leave immediately to free up shelter capacity.
Local shelters are near capacity. The Emergency Operations Center is working...
State prioritizes farmworkers for Covid-19 vaccinations
CALIFORNIA—As California deals with a surge of Covid-19 cases, hope is in sight as the vaccine begins to be administered to healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
And on Jan. 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that farmworkers would be included in the next tier.
The announcement...
Santa Cruz police evict homeless campers
SANTA CRUZ—Dozens of homeless people were roused by police officers in their tents early Friday morning at Phoenix Camp, the unsanctioned encampment behind the Gateway Plaza at River Street and Highway 1 in Santa Cruz.
The message was clear: the residents were trespassing on city-owned...
Keeping pets safe on Fourth of July
WATSONVILLE—After months of being shuttered during the countywide response to Covid-19, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s (SCCAS) Watsonville location has opened once again.
The reopening came a few days before the Fourth of July, a holiday known to cause lost pets and disrupted wildlife from...
Sheriff’s detectives arrest wallet thief
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday arrested a Live Oak man suspected of using credit and bank cards stolen from a firefighter’s truck to make thousands of dollars in purchases.
Brian Lee Johnson, 34, has been charged with using stolen credit cards, receiving...
Supervisor Friend hosting tele-town hall to discuss farmworker protections
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend tonight will host a tele-town hall from 6-7pm with guest Tom AmRhein to talk about the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
AmRhein, the former president of the Farm Bureau and the current chair of...
Fire breaks out at hotel
Fire swept through at least one room at the Surf City Inn and Suites early Saturday in the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz.
