Crime & Safety
Skateboard Attack; $100K of Bicycles Stolen; Man Stabbed for $1
The hot weather is bringing out hot crime, says Deputy Police Chief Rick Martinez. This is normally a slow time.
With the weather heating up, so is the crime, according to Santa Cruz Police.
A man hit a victim who was getting money out of an ATM at 6 p.m. on the 900 block of Pacific Avenue Wednesday and witnesses wrestled down the alleged attacker.
James Daniel Johnson, 31, of Santa Cruz, attacked a man who was trying to get money from the bank machine. He hit the man over the head with a skateboard and while the man was on the ground, went to retrieve the money, but it wasn't there yet.
Good Samaritans followed the attacker down Pacific toward the Metro bus station where a Metro security guard joined the fray. Finally, Santa Cruz officers arrived and arrested him for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon---the skateboard.
About $100,000 of bicycles were stolen from the manufacturer Santa Cruz Bicycles between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday. Police are investigating the loss from the 2800 block of Mission Street.
A 31-year-old Union City man was held up on the 500 block of Frederick Street Tuesday at 7 p.m. The man said two thugs demanded his wallet and when he showed them he only had a dollar, they hit him and stabbed him several times in the arms with a knife. Police are investigating, but don't have a good description yet.
A woman was arrested Wednesday for trying to cash checks that were stolen in December. Karen Elizabeth Laubenthal, 38, was held on suspicion of possessing the checks and receiving stolen property.
"This is usually our down time," said Deputy Chief Rick Martinez. "But we are getting all kinds of calls for service with the hot weather."
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