Local Photographer Captures Snapshot of SCPD’s Good Work

Thank you Tarmo for Note & Photo!

Background:
On Tuesday August 18th, at approximately 9:30am, a Santa Cruz Police Officer responded to a call in the area of Soquel Avenue and Park Way for a welfare check on a suspected intoxicated woman lying on the ground. While in route to the location, Dispatch advised that another citizen had called to report a disturbance at the same location. This caller/ witness reported hearing calls for help and went to assist the woman. The victim, a women described that a man standing nearby had harassed her, rummaged through her belongings and took some items.

The suspect man, later identified as Nolan West, age 24 from Lompico CA, was agitated, shirtless and pacing erratically near a bus stop on a high traffic street. When questioned by the officer, Mr. West responses were incoherent and he began to demonstrate increasingly violent behaviors. West continued to refuse and/or could not make sense of the request to be detained.

Out of concern for Mr. West and the public’s safety, additional officers responded and assisted with the arrest of the Nolan West for 211 PC; Robbery and 148(a) PC; Resisting Arrest.  Due to the suspects resistance with Officers, The Wrap was utilized during this incident. The WRAP is a safety restraint, designed to protect subjects, officers and staff by reducing the possibility of injury. The WRAP is designed to restrain a person in a more comfortable seated upright position.

Tarmo Hannula - Photographer with the Registar Pajaronian happened to be nearby the scene as it unfolded. This is the message and photo shown above that we received from him. “ These officers were up against a violently out of control man (most likely methed out?) this morning at Soquel Ave. at Park Way. He fought every inch of the way following some form of attempted robbery of a female (I think). Though his resistance was fierce, smashing his head on the sidewalk, etc., the officers remained calm, telling him to relax, that they were trying to help him, not hurt him. It appeared nothing but professional to me, right in the middle of a very volatile situation. Quite scary! From my point of view it seemed like these officers handled this extremely well. The officer at the left did an outstanding job of verbally working this guy down, using smart and effective language to defuse things. The man was safely put into an ambulance. Thought you'd like to know. Tarmo”

Thank you Tarmo for recognizing SCPD's efforts and for taking the time to send us the note and photo. This is an everyday snapshot example of the good work SCPD officers do.

Suspect from "Most Wanted" List, Turns Himself In

One of our “Most Wanted” suspects turned himself in to the CHP office in Aptos on Tuesday afternoon.  Our friends at the CHP were happy to pick up the assist on this one and promptly gave Detective Williams a call, letting him know they had his guy. 

Here is our suspect Jesus Tello.  

Mr. Tello is 29 years old and hails from Castroville, CA.  Mr. Tello also goes by the name “Jesse Lopez”. 

Jesus Tello was wanted in connection with a March 2014 robbery at the 7-Eleven Store on Mission Street.  Truly amazing detective work by Detective Damon Williams identified Mr. Tello as one of the suspects involved in this robbery.  According to the suspect, he knew he was wanted and was tired of living “on the lam”.

During his interview, our suspect denied any involvement in the robbery.  His story rated a full 4 “Pants On Fire” as we pointed out his fingerprints were all over the evidence and his image was on video evidence as well. 

Turns out, our suspect was the “Wheel Man” for the getaway car during this heist. 

Off to jail he went.  Good teamwork all around….from the detective, to the media to the CHP. 

Sandwich Suspect Submarined by Name That Thief

The case of the “Lunchbox Larceny”…..actually “Robbery” has been solved. 

Last week we posted this video

and photo

of our suspect who attempted to steal a sandwich from a downtown store.  When confronted, our suspect pulled a knife on store employees. 

An alert Sheriff’s Sergeant saw the photo and called in to identify him as Daniel Replogle

Mr. Replogle is 32 years old and transient in Santa Cruz.  He was located on Saturday on the 100 block of Coral Street and arrested for this robbery. 

For those that criticized the store and defended Mr. Repogle; rationalizing his behavior as just that of “a hungry man”……Well, not quite.  We take offense when you pull a knife on store clerks, or anyone for that matter!!! 

That was a robbery and you should know Mr. Replogle has a long history of arrests dating back to 2003 for offenses such as drugs, prescription meds without a prescription, theft, and possession of stolen property.  In fact, he has been arrested by our agency 5 times this year alone, and….he is on Probation! 

Officers recovered the knife he used in the brandishing, and also recovered a credit card that does not belong to him.  We’ll be following up on that part of this, as well.   

Thanks to our alert and knowledgeable friends at the Sheriff's Office for the assist on this one.  

Help Us Identify and Find This Sandwich Thief That Pulled a Knife on Store Employees

Help us identify this sandwich thief turned robber.

This suspect attempted to steal a pre-made sandwich from a downtown grocery market.  When store employees became wise to his intentions the suspect bolted for the back door.

Store employees continued to follow the suspect to the back parking lot and confront him.  That is when one of the employees took this photo of our suspect saluting the camera with the sandwich still in his hand. 

The suspect eventually threw down the sandwich and got on a bicycle.  Store employees still tried to restrain the suspect.  Our suspect pulled out a knife and brandished it at the store employees.   This is when the case turned from a lunchbox larceny to a robbery.   For those who aren’t versed in the legal differences; using force or fear in the course of a theft transforms it to a robbery.  

Here is a video of the incident. 

The store employees did the right thing by backing off and calling 9-1-1.

Be a “Hero” and help us “Submarine” this sandwich stealing suspect.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (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.

 

Help Us Identify This Armed Robbery Suspect

In the waaaaaay early morning hours of Wednesday August 20th (last week) and armed robbery occurred at the 7-11 Store, 2429 Mission Street.  The robbery occurred at approximately 3:25 AM.  The suspect took a carton of cigarettes at gunpoint from the store clerk.  Pretty desperate act for a carton of smokes!!

Here is a storyboard of the robbery. 

Our suspect walked into the store looking like this:

After a few minutes of lingering around....like this

He asks the clerk for a carton of cigarettes from behind the counter.  The clerk gets the cigarettes and turns around to find the suspect doing this

 

Our suspect walks around the counter like this

 

 The suspect grabs the carton of cigarettes as can be seen here

 And leaves the store toward Swift Street 

The suspect is described as: 

White Male Adult Late 20’s to Mid 30’s

Approx. 6 feet – 175 lbs

Goatee beard and moustache

Possible Tattoo on neck (calligraphy style writing)

Dark Pants

Blue & White Checked Shirt

Blue Bandanna

Sunglasses

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (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. 

Here's hoping we find this guy before he does this again, or hurts someone.