UPDATE: Suspect Arrested In Arson & Vandalism Case

 

CASE UPDATE: On Sunday, October 29, 2018, at approximately 3:40 p.m., a Santa Cruz Police Department Ranger observed a man walking in the 100 block of Emmett Street who resembled the description of a suspect arsonist. Soon after, Detectives contacted the suspect identified as 25-year-old Eduardo Lopez, transient in Santa Cruz. He was a match in surveillance videos from the business.

At the time of his arrest, Eduardo Lopez had two outstanding warrants and was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail for arson and felony vandalism.

BACKGROUND: On August 22, 2018, around 4:44 a.m., Santa Cruz Police and Fire responded to 1100 block of River Street following the report of a small, suspicious fire within a landscaped area, across from the Tannery Arts Center. Santa Cruz Fire personnel arrived shortly after and found two small fires within the planted area. These small fires were quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage to the ground cover.

While conducting a follow-up investigation into the suspicious fires, police investigators were advised of felony vandalism that had occurred within the Tannery Arts Center complex, at about the same time. Detectives were able to recover several security videos from the surrounding area, and upon viewing them, were able to confirm the same unidentified male suspect was responsible for both crimes.

Halloween 2018 Safety Enhancement Zone in Downtown Santa Cruz - Triple Fines - Road Closures - SCPD Preparations

Halloween is fast approaching. While you are doing your last minute costume and candy shopping, the Santa Cruz Police Department is completing our preparations for Halloween Night 2018. We bring in 100+ uniformed personnel, lighting and other equipment to ensure your Halloween is as safe as possible.

To encourage respectful behavior, the City of Santa Cruz enacts a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the downtown corridor for Halloween 2018. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins on Wednesday, October 31st at 12:01 AM and runs through Thursday, November 1st at noon.

The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times. In addition to the Triple Fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone also dictates road closures and No Parking zones.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The police department utilizes officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event. Officers use a proactive strategy to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol-fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night.

Halloween 2018 Road closures and No Parking locations

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar and Pacific Avenue.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Frazier Louis Lane.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ River Street between South River Street and Front Street

§ Front Street between River Street and Soquel Avenue

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street Parking Garage.

§ Cathcart Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage

Temporary road closures from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 03:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Maple Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage.

Temporary road closures from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Front Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Lincoln Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Elm Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

The temporary rerouting of Birch Lane from an eastbound one-way roadway to a westbound one-way roadway will occur from 5:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. Signage will be posted at each entrance to indicate the proper traffic flow.

National Teen Driver Safety Week is Oct. 21-27

Rules for the Road: 

Week Dedicated to Teaching Teen Drivers 

How to be Safe Behind the Wheel 

National Teen Driver Safety Week is Oct. 21-27

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the Santa Cruz Police Department wants to remind parents and guardians the importance of talking to their teen drivers about new responsibilities and rules that come with operating a vehicle.

“For teens, getting a license is a rite of passage tied to freedom and independence, but is also something that can be dangerous because teens lack experience behind the wheel and are more likely to take risks,” said Chief Andrew Mills. “National Teen Driver Safety Week is a way to encourage all parents to instill good driving habits that help their teens stay safe on the road.”

The reality is that vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 18. According to data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 73,736 crashes in 2016 involving drivers 16 to 20 years old in California alone. In those crashes, 437 people were killed.

Throughout the week (Oct. 21-27), the Santa Cruz Police Department will join the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in offering tips to parents and caregivers on how to talk to teens about the consequences of making dangerous and illegal choices behind the wheel.

· Graduated Driver License (GDL): Learn about California’s GDL laws, which place restrictions on passengers and driving late at night during the first year they have a license.

· Lead by example: Practice safe driving yourself. Have practice driving sessions with your teen.

· Set Ground Rules: No cell phones, no passengers, no speeding, no alcohol, no drowsy driving, and always buckle up. No keys until they know the rules. Establish consequences you will enforce if your teen breaks the rules.

· With driving comes great responsibility: Remind your teen that driving requires your full attention. Texts and phone calls can wait. Teach them about zero-tolerance laws, and the adult consequences they face for driving after drinking or using drugs. Urge them to never ride with someone who has been drinking or using drugs.

“Whether it’s drinking and driving, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving distracted or with friends in the car, it’s important for parents to let their teen know that driving is not a right, but a privilege,” said Chief Mills. “It can be taken away when they don’t follow the rules.”

To learn more about teen driver safety, visit the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) website at http://ghsa.org/html/issues/teens/index.html. 

 

Santa Cruz Police Arrest Suspect In Child Annoyance Case

MEDIA RELEASE: On Thursday, October 4, 2018, an unidentified male adult suspect approached several high school-aged female victims on and around the campus of Santa Cruz High School and Downtown Santa Cruz. A total of 8 known victims, underage girls, as young as 14 years old have come forward describing similar child annoyance experience. The suspect would approach the girls unsolicited and then ask for their names, phone numbers and asked the girls out on dates.

Patrol Officers were able to positively identify the suspect as Kelsey Eisenman 23 years old from Santa Cruz. The teenage victims confirmed he was the man who followed and annoyed them. Detectives then obtained an arrest warrant for Kelsey Eisenman for eight counts of Child Annoying violation 647.6 of the Penal Code. The investigation also revealed that Mr. Eisenman has a prior arrest in 2016 for the same activity.

On Wednesday, October 10, 2018, Officer Mulvihill was conducting extra checks and recognized the suspect as he was walking in the downtown area. Officer Mulvihill contacted the suspect, who initially provided a false name. Officer Mulvihill confirmed Mr. Eisenman's true identity and arrested him on the warrant. While in custody, suspect Mr. Eisenman made spontaneously and incriminating statements regarding his conduct with the victims.

The Santa Cruz Police Department commends the Santa Cruz High School personnel for taking proactive steps and immediately notifying police of his presence and behavior on campus.

This case underscores the importance of the working relationship and full cooperation between Santa Cruz City Schools and the Police. The SCPD School Resource Officer is on duty to ensure the safety of students and staff in our city schools.

Concerned parents and other victims, please call, the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5839 or email dwilliams@cityofsantacruz.com 

Santa Cruz Police and Fire Seeking Public’s Help to Identify Arson Suspect

The Santa Cruz Police are seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect in the attached photos. This suspect is responsible for felony vandalism at the Tannery Arts Center and setting two small fires in some nearby landscaping.

On August 22, 2018, around 4:44 a.m., Santa Cruz Police and Fire responded to 1100 block of River Street following the report of a small, suspicious fire within a landscaped area, across from the Tannery Arts Center. Santa Cruz Fire personnel arrived shortly after and found two small fires within the planted area. These small fires were quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage to the ground cover.

While conducting a follow-up investigation into the suspicious fires, police investigators were advised of a felony vandalism that had occurred within the Tannery Arts Center complex, at about the same time. Detectives were able to recover several security videos from the surrounding area, and upon viewing them, were able to confirm the same unidentified male suspect was responsible for both crimes.

The suspect seen in these videos is described as being a male adult with a medium to thin build.

Santa Cruz Police and Fire investigators have been unable to identify this male suspect positively, and are hoping someone from the community will recognize the suspect, and come forward with information.

Anyone with information on the identity of the individual or details surrounding this incident contact Detective Pendleton at 831-420-5832 or email spendleton@cityofsantacruz.com; Investigations Unit 831- 420-5820. Tips can also be sent online.

Child Annoying Suspect Arrested SANTA CRUZ POLICE Seeks Help Identifying Additional Victims Who Were Photographed

Santa Cruz Police is asking for the public’s help in identifying any additional victims of this annoying child suspect.

Christopher Swanson was seen near Santa Cruz High School campus several times by a female student who said Christopher Swanson had photographed her buttocks as well as other students’ buttocks. This quick thinking teen snapped a picture of the suspect and notified the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Detectives investigated the allegations and contacted Christopher Swanson, 29 years old from Santa Cruz. He was arrested on Thursday, October 4, 2018.

When interviewed by Detectives, Mr. Swanson admitted to secretly photographing and videoing females’ buttocks for the purpose of sexual gratification. Swanson admitted that he perceived some of these females to be as young as 16. Swanson also admitted to doing this at Santa Cruz High, the Santa Cruz Main Beach and, Downtown Santa Cruz.

A search of Swanson’s phone was conducted and there were numerous photos and videos recovered from the phone. Many of these images appeared to be secretly taken photos and videos of females’ buttocks. Many of the females appeared to be high school age.

Santa Cruz Police believe there may be more victims who were unknowingly photographed and videoed by Christopher Swanson in the City of Santa Cruz. If you had any contact with the suspect or observed his behavior, contact Detective Williams.

We are asking for the public’s help in identifying any additional victims with whom Christopher Swanson may have had contact. Concerned parents and other victims, please call, the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5839 or email dwilliams@cityofsantacruz.com 

Cold Case Anniversary Unsolved Homicide of Samuel Marroquin

COLD CASE: Today marks the 1st anniversary of the Samuel Marroquin unsolved homicide.

On 10/02/17 Officers responded to an unconscious male on the San Lorenzo River Levee near the Broadway Bridge in Santa Cruz. Officers located Samuel Marroquin with multiple gunshot wounds who died at the scene.

Detectives are still looking for any leads or further information regarding the murder of Samuel Marroquin.

If you have information about this case, please contact Santa Cruz Police Department Detective Fincutter at efincutter@cityofsantacruz.com or 831-420-5820

Other SCPD cold cases documented on SCPD Cold Case web page. Even if you have second- or third-hand information about what happened in a case, it may be the missing piece of the puzzle that helps us to solve the mystery. https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/police/cold-cases