Suspected Car Thief Arrested & Stolen Car Recovered

On evening of Thursday 9/24/15, an observant and concerned citizen reported that 3 suspects had been observed removing license plates from a gold colored Honda Pilot and discarded the license plates in a nearby dumpster. This was a useful and timely tip.

A 2011 gold Honda Pilot had been reported stolen to the Santa Cruz Police Department on Wednesday 9/23/15. The car was stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Morrissey Blvd.

As a routine practice, SCPD officers are always on the lookout for stolen cars while on patrol. The responding officer investigating the tip interviewed the witnesses and discovered video surveillance was available. The surveillance video was taken in the area at the time the suspects removed the license plates from the stolen car. A short while later, members of the Santa Cruz Police Department set up a strategy to find the car and catch the suspected car theft.

SCPD Officers intercepted the stolen Honda Pilot in a local hotel parking lot. The suspect car thief was identified as Katelyn Freitas, age 26 from Santa Cruz.

During a search of Freitas’s hotel room, officers found narcotics and a variety of stolen items in her possession. Among the stolen items included jewelry, golf clubs, multiple ID's and credit cards. 

The investigation into this vehicle theft and the related burglaries is continuing and additional arrests may follow. 

Katelyn Freitas was on probation with confirmed search terms and was in possession of numerous stolen items; as well as narcotics. Freitas was arrested and booked for vehicle theft, receiving/possessing of a stolen property, possession of narcotics and probation violation.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety. Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department at (831) 420-5820 or Anonymous Tip Line (831) 420-5995. www.santacruzpolice.com

Help Identify Pedestrian in Major Injury Collision

UPDATE as of 9/22/15
We believe we have her identified. SCPD is working to confirm her identity.  We are also working with the hospital staff to locate and notify family.

Thank you for sharing the post. Thank you for the leads and tips. SCPD will pass along your kind comments for her recovery.

We can officially state her name only after her family has been notified.
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9/21/15
The Santa Cruz Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance to identify this woman who was struck by a vehicle. Early this morning, SCPD responded to a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Soquel Ave and Morrissey Blvd. The pedestrian suffered major injuries and is in critical care at a bay area trauma center.

We are seeking the public’s help to find out who she is. The injured pedestrian did not have any identification on her person. The photos attached are from a store video surveillance that was taken minutes prior to the accident.

BACKGROUND: 

On September 21, 2015 at 5:54 am, officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department responded to Soquel Ave at Morrissey Boulevard for a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

Officers found the pedestrian lying in the roadway. The involved vehicle was still on scene and was identified as a 2001 Acura. The pedestrian, an unidentified female, was transported by air ambulance to a Bay Area trauma center with major injuries. Detectives are working to identify her.

The driver of the Acura is a 24 years, female from San Jose. The preliminary investigation revealed the pedestrian was crossing Soquel Ave at Morrissey, while the vehicle was traveling eastbound in the #2 lane of Soquel Ave.

The driver remained at the scene and has been cooperative with investigators. The driver was not arrested or cited, as the investigation is still ongoing.

Soquel Avenue at Morrissey Blvd. was closed as a result of the collision investigation. The roadway was opened at approximately 1:00 pm. Traffic was rerouted through the area.
The Santa Cruz Police Department is asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed this collision to contact investigators. Contact investigators at 831- 420-5820.Anonymous tips can be sent through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995 or www.santacruzpolice.com

Beach Flats Mural Vandalism

The Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism to mural artwork at the Beach Flats Park.

Over the weekend, vandals painted over two murals on a storage building at the park. The damage to the murals on the building appears to have been done over two separate nights.

Mural as it was before vandalism

The mural on one side of the building had depicted a family scene. The adjacent sidewall had a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Additionally, the vandals painted the Beach Flats Park sign and another sign at Riverside and Leibrandt.

Adjacent side of building mural prior to vandalism
Below painted out Beach Flats sign

A possible suspect was as a described female, mid 40s age range with brown wavy curly hair, wearing brown sweatshirt and brown long dress.

The murals have historical and cultural significance to the Beach Flats community. These acts of vandalism are taken very seriously by the Santa Cruz Police Department and will not be tolerated in our community.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is scouring the area for video surveillance and possible witnesses. We are asking for the public’s help to identify this suspect wanted in this investigation.
Anyone with information relative to the vandalism and suspect’s identity 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 www.santacruzpolice.com

Holy Cross School's Annual Cookies for Courage Event

Holy Cross School’s Annual Cookies for Courage event is a treasured tradition at the Santa Cruz Police Department.

On Friday September 11th, Holy Cross School hosted its annual Cookies for Courage honoring Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics and First Responders in Santa Cruz County.

Holy Cross students prepared and decorated a plentiful array of platters full of cookies. The entire student body at Holy Cross School participated in this thoughtful tribute that included songs, letters and prayers. 

Everyone was honored by the support of the families and students at Holy Cross School as they presented firefighters, paramedics and police with trays of fresh-baked cookies as a symbol of appreciation for their work.

Principal Kimberly Cheng explained that Cookies for Courage was a chance for the Holy Cross School and parish community to show their appreciation for the men and women who keep Santa Cruz safe.

Father Rodolfo Contreras blessed the vehicles of all First Responders wishing them a safe return from service calls. 

Chief Vogel said “Cookies for Courage will always be a very special and favorite event for us at the SCPD. All emergency personnel represented here appreciate the efforts and enjoy seeing the students, staff and families at Holy Cross School. This is a wonderful event and the cookies are delicious!”

This event was the invention of Riley Sisk after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Riley was 6th grade student at Holy Cross. She came up with the idea to have a meaningful event that honored all the first responders and remembered the sacrifices made. The event has carried on at Holy Cross School ever since.

Police Officers, Firefighters, and Paramedics are honored each year at this ceremony and loaded with delicious cookies to bring back and share with our staff.

A heartfelt THANKS to Holy Cross School Principal Cheng and all the staff at Holy Cross School. Huge THANK YOU'S to all the students and their parents. And, THANK YOU to Riley Sisk for starting this wonderful tradition. We are truly honored by this great ceremony and outpouring of support.

SCPD Welcomes New Police Officer Matt Montes

Police Chief Kevin Vogel welcomed Officer Matt Montes to the Santa Cruz Police Department ranks yesterday as family members, friends and colleagues proudly looked on.

“The swearing-in of a new police officer is a proud moment for those who have chosen to serve and put your life on the line for the safety and service of others “said Chief Vogel.

Officer Montes come to us from the Montes law enforcement dynasty of Santa Cruz County.

Matt Montes worked for Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation and then at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff as a Correctional Officer until starting with SCPD. Officer Montes academic background includes an AA degree from Santa Monica College and a B.S. degree California State University in fire services, which caused Chief Vogel to pause and evoked laughter from the audience.

Officer Montes is from Watsonville and graduated from Watsonville High School. “Santa Cruz is a unique place. We are pleased to recruit a local officer who grew up here,” Chief Vogel said before administering the oath of honor to Officer Montes. “I congratulate you on achieving your goals and congratulate your family.”

This was a proud moment for Officer Montes’s family and a proud moment for the Santa Cruz Police Department as we welcome you to our family.

Please join us in congratulations and welcome to Officer Matt Montes.

Help Us Identify This Bike Thief

A bicycle that was locked to the bicycle rack at 809 Center Street was stolen. SCPD is hoping someone recognizes this suspected bike thief from these video images.

On August 23, 2015, at approximately 7:20 PM, this suspect stole a bicycle from a bike rack at City Hall. After stealing the bicycle, he rode away heading southbound on Church Street. The suspect is captured on video surveillance taking the bicycle from the bike rack. 

These images show the suspect prior to the theft. 

The suspect is described as a white male, 25 – 40 years old, wearing a grey baseball cap on backwards, blue t- shirt with white writing across the chest, black pants and black and white striped backpack.

The bicycle is described as a green Trek 520, 24 speed touring bicycle. It looks like a typical 10 speed bike with many bike movement stickers on it. The bike has a black rack on the back which has a hole in it. The bike also has two water bottle cages. The victim says the bike is valued at $1,800.00

If you recognize the suspected bike thief or bicycle, please notify the Santa Cruz Police Department.

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. Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text. Visit our Website for instructions. www.santacruzpolice.com