Some people booked into Santa Cruz County Jail have been arrested dozens of times, writes Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark. He wants to understand why – and what might break the cycle. Here, he asks for public input on what happens between arrests and what the sheriff’s office can do better. He promises to use public questions to shape future Lookout op-eds and offers to answer questions readers have about issues facing our community, how his office works and the challenges we face to keep Santa Cruz County safe.
Crime
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Californians revolt against police drones after rapid adoption across state
Across California, police departments are rapidly expanding “Drone as First Responder” programs, triggering intense public backlash over warrantless surveillance and corporate overreach.
Posted inLatest News
Leif Ames murder trial postponed again, now set to begin Dec. 7
The murder trial of Leif Ames, charged with killing his longtime friend Hubert Cross in 2020, has been postponed again and is now scheduled to begin Dec. 7.
Posted inLatest News
Sheriff opposes proposed Santa Cruz Mountains placement of convicted rapist Michael Cheek
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark is opposing the proposed placement of rapist Michael Cheek in a Los Gatos property in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Posted inLatest News
Former Monte Vista Christian School teacher arrested on lewd acts charges
A former Monte Vista Christian School teacher faces multiple charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a child aged 14 or 15 from an alleged incident in 2022.
Posted inLatest News
Tyler Leibelt pleads not guilty in Capitola Mall murder case
The Santa Cruz 19-year-old accused of murdering a 73-year-old Capitola woman outside of the Capitola Mall in July will return to court on Oct. 8 for a preliminary hearing.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz seafood entrepreneur’s stalking trial delayed to November
A Santa Cruz judge postponed seafood entrepreneur Clarice Owens’ felony stalking trial for a third time, pushing the start date from Aug. 17 to Nov. 30 after her attorney requested a delay.
Posted inLatest News
Police arrest two juveniles in connection with shooting incident outside Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Police have arrested two 17-year-olds in Ceres, in Stanislaus County, in connection with the shooting incident in the parking lot outside of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Monday night.
Posted inLatest News
Suspect in Capitola Mall stabbing to be arraigned on Wednesday; court documents lay out alleged sequence of events
Tyler Leibelt, the 19-year-old suspect in the Monday stabbing that killed 73-year-old Rachell Summers outside the Capitola Mall, will return to court on Wednesday for his arraignment, continued from this week. Court documents filed by the district attorney’s office show the suspect’s troubled history and sequence of events from the day of the crime.
Posted inLatest News
Police identify victim, suspect in fatal Capitola Mall stabbing
Capitola police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim in Monday’s fatal stabbing outside the Capitola Mall as Rachell Summers, 73, of Capitola. On Tuesday, the law enforcement agencies also identified the suspect as Tyler Leibelt, 19, of Santa Cruz, who remains in custody.
