Identity of Pedestrian in May 1, 2017 Hit &Run Collision

The victim in the vehicle versus pedestrian collision that occurred on May 1, 2017, has been identified as Elizabeth Green from the Bonny Doon community. Elizabeth’s family from out of town are at her bedside. The 62-year-old woman suffered major injuries and is in critical condition.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Background:
On Monday, May 1, 2017, at approximately 8:36 pm, Santa Cruz Police officers responded to a report of a hit and run collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in the 700 block of West Cliff Drive. Officers arrived and found a 62-year-old woman lying in the roadway. She had been struck by a passing vehicle. Witnesses reported that the driver initially stopped, then fled the scene. Officers tended to the victim until the arrival of Emergency Medical crews. She was airlifted to a Bay Area Trauma Center.

Witnesses described the suspect vehicle that fled the scene as a red convertible Buick LeSabre. Minutes later, an SCPD officer located a 1994 red Buick with damage to the front windshield traveling in the roundabout on Beach Street. The officer conducted a car stop on the 400 block of Front Street.

The suspect driver, Lorenzo Arteaga, 63 years old from San Jose, was arrested. Mr. Arteaga was booked into county jail for felony hit and run with injury.

Anyone who has information or who may have witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact SCPD at 831- 420-5820.

Help SCPD Identify Suspect in Hit and Run Collision on 10/30/16

The Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating a Hit and Run traffic collision which resulted in a victim with critical injuries.

On Sunday morning, October 30th, at approximately 1:55 am, officers responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian injury collision. The suspect vehicle struck a pedestrian just south of the railroad tracks on southbound Highway 1 between River Street and Mission Street.

The vehicle described as a silver colored Honda CRV fled the scene without stopping. The victim, a 20 year old female UCSC student, was transported to a Bay Area Trauma Center. She is in critical condition.

The victim was struck while crossing Highway 1. The victim was not in a crosswalk. She was walking home from a Halloween event on River St with friends. Release of the victim’s name is pending notification to the family. 

Suspect vehicle is a 2010-2011 Silver Honda CRV with passenger side front bumper damage. Similar to this picture.

Santa Cruz Police Investigators are asking the community to be on the lookout for 2010-2011 Silver Honda CRV (Similar to the one below) with passenger side front bumper damage. If you have noticed anything unusual about a similar vehicle matching the description in your neighborhoods, workplaces and parking lots, please report it.

Call SCPD Investigations at 831.420.5820. If you want to make an anonymous call regarding the incident, please call 831.420.5995

SCPD Notable Cases Over the Labor Day Weekend

The Santa Cruz Police Department responded to 1131 calls for service over the course of Labor Day Weekend. Here are four cases of interest during the busy weekend.

16S-07419  On September 2, 2016, at approximately 11:26 pm, Santa Cruz Police responded to a report that a car had crashed into the Betty’s Burgers at 505 Seabright Ave. A gold Buick Century had smashed into the east-side of the building. Fortunately, Betty’s Burgers was closed at the time of the crash and no one was injured. Witnesses saw approximately four occupants run away from the scene in opposite directions.

While investigating the scene, SCPD received a call from the owner of the car. The owner indicated the driver crashed because he was being chased by another person. The driver, 18 years old male from Santa Cruz, then met with Officers and detailed his account of the incident. The driver indicated that the occupants of a white Dodge Charger were trying to shoot at him.

The driver was arrested for the hit & run and driving under the influence. Gang investigators are following up on this case and any possible gang ties to this incident.

16S- 07423 On September 3, 2016, at approximately 12:52 am, SCPD Officers responded to a report of a victim of a gunshot wound at Dominican Hospital. The victim sustained a non-life-threatening injury. The victim was uncooperative with investigators. Evidence was discovered to substantiate that the victim was shot near Seabright Ave. and Hall Street. Detectives are exploring any connections to the collision case 16S-07419. Early indication is that this incident is gang motivated.

16S-07420  On September 3, 2016 at approximately 12:07 am, Santa Cruz Police responded to a report of multiple gunshots in the 90 block of Chestnut Street. Arriving Officers discovered a drive-by style shooting occurred in a cul-de-sac of an apartment complex. No injuries were reported.

SCPD Officers established a crime scene and recovered several casings. During the investigation, witnesses reported seeing a light colored sedan speeding away from the scene. Preliminary information suggests the shooting is also gang related.

The police department is asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed the shooting to contact investigators. Contact investigators at 831- 420-5820. 

16S-07455  On September 3, 2016, at approximately 11:33 pm, Santa Cruz Police responded to the area of Delaware and Swift for a possible hit and run with a van.

The suspect vehicle described as a white Ford van had hit several street signs and drove erratically tailgating and flashing a bright light behind a car. The driver had intentionally struck down 15 to 20 stop signs.

SCPD Officer located the van and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the van failed to yield to the officers’ lights and siren and sped away. The pursuit started on Water Street and traveled over Highway 17 when the Santa Cruz CHP took over. San Jose CHP, Santa Clara County Deputies cornered the suspect in Santa Clara at a dead end. Authorities were able to take Christopher Ellebracht, 38 years old from Cupertino into custody without incident.
Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood. SCPD is dedicated to our community with ongoing efforts to keep Santa Cruz a safe place to live, work and raise a family.

Press Release: Arrest in Vehicle Pedestrian Hit & Run 6/5/16

On Sunday, June 5, 2016 at approximately 4:35pm, Santa Cruz Police officers responded to a report of a hit and run collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at Bay Drive and High Street. SCPD Officers and rescue personnel arrived and found a 21 year old UCSC student had been stuck by a passing vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene and did not stop to render assistance to the victim. The victim was treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses provided crucial information describing a white sedan that struck the pedestrian and the direction in which the car sped away. SCPD Officers quickly located a white Chevrolet Malibu with front end damage heading eastbound in the area of Mission St. and Chestnut St.

The driver of Chevy Malibu is 33 year old, Juan Castillo from Watsonville. The preliminary investigation indicates that pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Bay Drive and High Street. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on High Street when the driver struck the pedestrian.

Juan Castillo was arrested for hit and run and driving without a license. 

The case detailed above is a separate incident not related to the fatal hit and run reported by Santa Cruz CHP on the same day.
On 6-5-16 at approximately 7:15 pm, there was a fatal hit and run collision on southbound Highway 1 south of River St. A motorcycle rider struck a concrete wall, then may have been struck by an unknown vehicle.

Santa Cruz CHP are asking for assistance from the public. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information about the crash is asked to call the Santa Cruz CHP office at 831-662-0511

Hit and Run Collision DUI Arrest

On July 9, 2015 at 5:20 AM, Santa Cruz Police Officers responded to a report of a hit and run collision in the area of Park Way and Acacia Way. Witnesses reported a silver Jeep Cherokee colliding with a parked car in the area. Witnesses also reported that the driver was naked as he fled from his car, and into the backyard of a home in the area. The homeowner reported the suspect was attempting to get into the residence via a sliding glass door.

Several officers arrived and were able to safely take the suspect into custody. Officers discovered the suspect sustained significant injuries during the collision. The suspect was transported from the scene to Dominican Hospital where he remains in ICU.

The suspect was identified as Richard Ducati, 51 year old from San Francisco.

Investigating officers believed Mr. Ducati was under the influence of drugs at the time of the collisions and subsequent arrest.

This collision came on the heels of another hit and run collision reported in the city of Santa Cruz at Mission Street and Miramar Drive, and another in the Live Oak area. Mr. Ducati is believed to be involved in these collisions, and possibly others through the area.

Mr. Ducati’s vehicle became disabled in the final collision and was towed from the scene. Photos of the vehicle are attached.

Mr. Ducati will likely be hospitalized for an extended period of time. He will be booked for his pending charges of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, and Hit and Run when medically cleared. At this time, there is not a photo available for Mr. Ducati. Photos of silver Jeep Cherokee attached.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information relative to this incident is asked to contact the Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5820.

Help us Identify a Hit and Run Truck and Driver

The Santa Cruz Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying the driver and vehicle involved in hit and run collision in a Westside neighborhood.

On May 17, 2015 at approximately 2:09 pm, the Santa Cruz Police Department responded to multiple reports of two vehicles in a chase in the area of Bay St and California St. Shortly after these initial reports, the police department began receiving calls regarding an injury hit and run in the 400 block of Palm St. 

Witnesses described seeing a grey truck chasing an older black Mercedes in the area of Bay St and California The speeding Mercedes eventually crashed into the curb on Palm St. The chasing truck followed and rear ended the Mercedes. 

After hitting the Mercedes car, the driver of the truck then backed up and rammed the Mercedes for a second time.   Witnesses described the truck intentionally slamming into the victim’s car again. Both drivers were heard yelling at each other in the street.

After intentionally striking the victim’s car, the suspect truck fled westbound on Palm St.  The vehicle had significant front end damage. 

The victim driver of the Mercedes was transported to Dominican Hospital with a compound fracture to his leg.

The suspect vehicle is described as light grey full size pickup truck. These photos were provided to us by a witness.  They show the suspect fleeing the scene. The suspect driver is described as being a white male in his late 40s. 

The Santa Cruz Police Department is asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed this hit and run to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5820.   

Anonymous tips can also be sent to the police department through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995, or from our Website; www.santacruzpolice.com .  Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text.  Visit our Website for instructions.

Hit & Run - Attempt Homicide Suspect Captured

For those of you suffering from Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns), this case justifies your concerns. 

Our suspect was arrested for Attempted Homicide after our investigation showed he intentionally ran down a bicyclist in a case of mistaken identity.  Witnesses also reported that the driver of the suspect truck was wearing a rubber clown mask when he ran down the bicyclist.   

The suspect is Jeremy Lee Anecito - 28 years old from the live Oak area of Santa Cruz

The collision occurred last Wednesday, September 24th at about 8:45 AM.  Witnesses told us the suspect intentionally accelerated and swerved to strike the bicyclist.  Turns out, Mr. Anecito was looking to exact some revenge, but......he mistook this bicyclist for someone with whom he has an ongoing dispute.   (After reading that, did you find yourself saying, "WOW")   

The collision occurred as the truck was traveling eastbound on Soquel Avenue crossing the San Lorenzo River Bridge.  The bicyclist was traveling eastbound along the westbound lanes (against the flow of traffic).  Witnesses reported that the pickup truck accelerated to the point of squealing tires and driving on the wrong side of the road to hit the bicyclist. 

Outstanding detective work eventually led to the discovery of the truck and then the driver.  

On October 1^st, the truck was discovered in the parking garage for the Saint George Hotel.  The truck was impounded for evidence and will be processed next week.  The truck is a green 1995 Chevy pickup truck.  The truck had damage consistent with the collision on the right rear. 

And yes, there is actually a clown mask still in the truck. 

Mr. Anecito was found in a room at the Saint George.  He has a history of arrests with our department.

Evidence and information in the case, including limited admissions by Mr. Anectio led to the charge of Attempted Homicide as this was clearly an intentional act. Here is the damage to the bicycle:

The bicyclist is a 39 year old transient from Santa Cruz.  He too has a history of contacts and arrests with law enforcement.  The bicyclist sustained injuries that were initially life-threatening, so he was airlifted to a Bay Area trauma center, where he is expected to recover.