The Sheriff’s Office has Been Busy!

 

This has been an extremely busy year for the Sheriff’s Office.  We have had 8 homicides this year just in the unincorporated area of the county. We have been inundated with methamphetamine and identity theft.  Sex offenders have been recently highlighted in the news media. Here are some of the notable incidents in the last month and a half:

 

Deputies worked with Watsonville Police and California Highway Patrol on a missing person case involving a 19 year old man.  The Sheriff’s Air Squadron flew over a marshy area of Harkin Slough and observed a potential body in the water.  Police then used a raft to get to the area where they recovered the body of the missing 19 year old. His unfortunate death was ruled an accident after he apparently drove his truck into the water on the slough.

 

In another case, deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle and discovered an occupant was on parole. A parole search of the car yielded an exploded dye pack of money commonly used by banks in the event of a robbery. Deputies also located gloves and wigs. The driver of the car  took off running and was eventually located hiding in bushes. Further investigation revealed the money was stolen during a bank robbery in Tracy, CA.  Tracy Police detectives later came and searched the suspect car after getting a search warrant and found additional items of evidence in their case and potential other robberies.

 

Detectives and patrol deputies followed up on a case and discovered in a remote area over one pound of heroin and three ounces of cocaine buried beneath a tree in a shopping bag.

 

Deputies responded to a homicide at a local care facility where the suspect, a patient,  stabbed another patient and the facility manager.  The manager survived but the victim patient died. 

 

In September, a young woman, Joanna “Asha” Veil was seen leaving her work place but never returned to work or home. Her body was later located on Love Creek Road, Ben Lomond.  An autopsy was performed and she was found to be pregnant with an unborn child. Both deaths have been ruled as homicides and Sheriff’s detectives are actively investigating these tragic deaths.

 

On September 30^th, deputies responded to a shooting on Highway 1 that involved four victims, two of whom suffered gunshot wounds to their heads. As a result of the deputies’ investigation, assisted by Santa Cruz Police, seven search warrants were served, four vehicles were seized and nearly twenty people were interviewed that were directly involved in the incident. With additional help from Scotts Valley and Watsonville Police departments, two alleged gang members were arrested for the shooting.

 

Just last week, Sheriff’s detectives traveled to Kona, Hawaii, to interview and later arrest a woman for embezzlement and other charges.  She had worked as a manager and book keeper for a local shopping center.  After months of investigation, it is believed the suspect stole more than $160,000 from the business.  After her arrest, she was brought back to Santa Cruz County to face criminal charges.

 

Sheriff’s deputies assigned as School Resource Officers recently investigated the arson of the San Lorenzo Valley High School Library.  In one day, deputies were able to learn the names of possible suspects. They then located and arrested two juveniles and one adult for this crime that greatly impacted the school and community.

 

Finally, one of our Police K-9 service dogs, Brix, has retired after eight years of protecting the community.  Brix had averaged 125 calls for service each year and had over 350 felony arrests. In addition, Brix located a lost four year old child. Brix received the Sheriff’s Bronze Medal for Distinguished Service in 2005 for his actions in the arrest of an armed suspect.  Joe’s handler and partner, Deputy Joe Clarke is now assigned as a School Resource Officer.