Four arrested during joint narcotics sting operation.

On Friday February 19th, between 1:30pm and 3:15pm, the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team conducted a narcotics sting operation in the City of Santa Cruz. The joint operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects for conspiracy and sales of narcotics to undercover officers. The suspects sold methamphetamine and heroin to undercover officers. The arrests were made in the areas of San Lorenzo Park and the east river levee of the San Lorenzo River near Riverside Ave.

The suspects arrested have been identified as:

Rafael Saldana - 46 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Rafael Saldana  was arrested for (1) Sales of Heroin 11351H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182 PC 

Juan Gonzalez, - 41 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Juan Gonzalez was arrested for (1) Sales of Heroin 11351H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182 PC

Benjamin Kirkley - 59 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Benjamin Kirkley was arrested for (1) Sales of Methamphetamine 11378H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182PC

John Pitts - 37 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

John Pitts was arrested for Arrested for (1) Sales of Methamphetamine 11378H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182PC
  
This successful drug arrest is due to the combined work of the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood. 

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) is specialized unit. NET works as a team to focus on mid to long-term issues works focus is on enforcement strategies in order to suppress crimes of violence, gangs and drugs throughout the City of Santa Cruz.

SCPD Shooting Investigation & Arrest

The Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred 2/10/16 on Berry St. near Avalon St. at approximately 10:30 pm. This incident is being investigated as a gang motivated shooting. The victim is a 20 year old Santa Cruz resident. He was struck in the arm and transported to a Bay Area trauma center for treatment. The victim’s wound was not life threatening.

SCPD Detectives worked throughout the night and identified two suspects in the shooting. The suspects were located at approximately 3:00 am near an apartment complex in the 200 block of Button Street. Both suspects were in custody within a few hours thanks to the combined efforts of SCPD Detectives, SCPD Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

Misael Acosta-Vences, 20 years old, Santa Cruz resident 

Misael Acosta-Vences was identified and arrested as the suspected shooter. He is 20 years old and a Santa Cruz resident. Misael Acosta-Vences was arrested for the following charges: attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling and multiple gang enhancement charges.

Jocelyn Acosta, 22 year old, Santa Cruz resident

Jocelyn Acosta has been arrested as an accessory to the crime. She is 22 years old and a Santa Cruz resident. Jocelyn Acosta was arrested for the following charges: attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling and participating in a criminal street gang.
At this time, there are no other suspects being sought.

SCPD Officers recovered several bullets at the crime scene. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots fired in the area. One stray bullet entered a nearby residence and lodged into a wall. The family was home at the time of the shooting. Fortunately, no one in the home was harmed.

The police department is asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed this shooting to contact Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (831) 420-5820.

Massage Parlor Sting & Human Trafficking Investigation

On January 29, 2016, the Santa Cruz Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) conducted an undercover human trafficking and prostitution sting focusing on illegal acts of prostitution in local massage businesses. The operation was borne out of community complaints and suspicions about the activity occurring in the businesses.

Four local businesses were visited by undercover officers during this operation. In all four locations, employees solicited the undercover officers by offering to perform sex acts in exchange for money during the course of the massage. The businesses are:

Lucky Valley Health Center
827 Water Street

Asian Massage
212 Fern Street

Health Care Massage
223 River Street

Golden Bay Spa
551 Frederick Street

In all, four women were cited for soliciting an act of prostitution. Their ages are 50, 44, 30 and 42 years old. Our investigation revealed that all four of the women are Chinese Nationals.

It is not uncommon to find that women working in such businesses, engaging in illegal acts of prostitution, are indeed victims of a larger human trafficking operation. The Police Department Victim Advocate and an advocate from Monarch Services accompanied the operation to offer services and assist in assessing the participants for possible human trafficking involvement. The team also included Mandarin and Cantonese translators.

In addition to the advocates, other agencies assisting in this operation include the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT), the District Attorney’s Office, and Federal and State law enforcement.

The Santa Cruz Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team plans to conduct similar operations in the near future. These operations are designed to address potential human trafficking operations and ensure these businesses are operating within the law.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is committed to improving the quality of life for our community and stopping those that seek to victimize and/or exploit others. 

Anyone who has information on illegal activity, such as this, in and around the City of Santa Cruz is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department. Tipsters can also share this information via our anonymous tip line at (831) 420-5995. Additional services available for victims of human trafficking include:

National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

Monarch Services 1-888-900-4232

SCPD NET & SC Co Anti-Crime Team join forces again. They STOPPED $42,000 of drugs from hitting our streets.

On July 10, 2015 at about 10:30 AM, the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle driven by Gabriel Guzman on HWY 17 in Scotts Valley. During the stop, Mr. Guzman was found to be in possession of 2.2 ounces of heroin, 1 ounce of methamphetamine, and 4 grams of cocaine. Guzman was also in possession of about $16,000 cash.

Gabriel Guzman, 41 years old and a resident of Vacaville, California.

After the discovery of the narcotics Guzman was transporting, a search warrant was served at Guzman’s residence in Vacaville, CA by the Neighborhood Enforcement Team with the assistance of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team. During this search warrant officers found at the suspect’s residence in Vacaville:
9.1 ounces of cocaine,
6.2 ounces of methamphetamine,
1.4 ounces of marijuana,
0 .6 ounces of heroin.
Three firearms were recovered from the residence, one of which had been reported stolen from Washington. $12,000 cash was also located in the residence.

In all, the drugs seized during the traffic stop plus the house warrant carries a street value of approximately $42,000. The cash seized from the traffic stop and the house warrant totaled $28,000.

Guzman was arrested for (1) 11351HS - possession of cocaine for sale, (2) 11351HS - possession of heroin for sale, (3) 11352(a)HS – transport narcotics, (4) 11352(b)HS – transport narcotics between counties, (6) 11378HS – possession of methamphetamine for sale, 11379(a)HS – transport methamphetamine, (7) 11379(b)HS – transport methamphetamine between counties.

This successful drug arrest is due to the combined logistics of the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

This is a continuing effort to keep Santa Cruz a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.