The Santa Cruz Police Department is pleased to announce that 2016 was welcomed in without any major incidence of violence during the festivities downtown. The police department deployed additional officers throughout the city as well as a significant contingent of officers on foot in the Downtown corridor.
Crowds gathered at the Town Clock for a city sponsored Countdown Celebration. Like last year, temperatures dipped to approximately 38 degrees around midnight. The city sponsored event drew a crowd of approximately 3,500 compared to last year of approximately 4,000 revelers.
Overall downtown Santa Cruz arrests and citations were up from 2015. The following is a breakdown of the arrest statistics for the night.
The New Year Eve and January 1st early morning deployment reported the following activity:
Arrests Total = 28
11 for Public Intoxication
Last year saw a total of 19 arrests on New Year’s Eve
53 Citations Issued
27 for Triple Fine Cites. The majority of the triple fines were for open containers of alcohol.
Non Triple Fines Cites = 26
Last year saw a total of 38 cites with 26 of those being Triple Fines cites.
One case of interest - SCPD Officer Injured During Arrest.
Approximately, 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016, SCPD responded to a suspicious person in the 2200 block of Mission Street that was causing a disturbance inside a store.
Todd Shores, 46 years old from Soquel
The suspect Todd Shores resisted arrest and fled. Todd Shores then physically fought with two officers. After injuring one officer, Shores then continued fighting with another officer. During that altercation Shore repeatedly tried to grab at the officer's utility belt. In order to subdue the suspect, the Officer had to deploy a Taser. Todd Shores was stunned one time. Todd Shores, 46, from Soquel was arrested for theft, trespassing and resisting arrest. An SCPD Officer will start the year out on medical leave. Everyone at SCPD wishes this Officer a speedy recovery.
