Quick Take
The Santa Cruz Police Department has arrested a 31-year-old man in a fatal stabbing on Friday at George Washington Grove in the DeLaveaga Park area.
Santa Cruz police have arrested a suspect in a fatal stabbing at George Washington Grove in the DeLaveaga Park area on Friday.
Deputy Chief Jon Bush said Santa Cruz Police Department officers arrested Joseph Young, a 31-year-old unhoused resident, on Friday several hours after the stabbing. He said that Young had come to the police station to report the incident and give his version of events.
Bush added that Young “admitted his involvement, but gave an account of the events that didn’t align with the evidence and witness statements that investigators uncovered.” The inconsistencies led to his arrest.
Bush declined to elaborate Monday on the discrepancies between the suspect’s account and witnesses’ statements, saying they were still confidential. He added that Young and the victim were acquaintances, and that they had “a prior negative interaction, which led to the stabbing.”
A SCPD media release said that Young and the victim had a disagreement that resulted in the stabbing on Friday. It also said that the stabbing was “not a random act of violence,” and that the victim was targeted due to their prior negative relationship with Young.
Bush said that police were waiting to release the victim’s identity until they could notify next of kin, but KSBW reported that friends of the victim identified him as 44-year-old Todd Kolibas, who was also unhoused.
Santa Cruz County court records show Joseph Dale Young faces charges of murder, use of a deadly weapon and other offenses.
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.