Witnesses say Santa Cruz police officers used excessive force Wednesday morning when arresting a Black man on his bike. Deputy Chief Jon Bush said the department is investigating a community complaint it received about the incident.
Crime
Posted inLatest News
Man found guilty of first-degree murder in downtown Santa Cruz parking garage stabbing
The weeklong trial in Neoklis Koumides’ November 2022 murder came to an end Friday afternoon when a Santa Cruz Superior Court jury found John Frederick Burke guilty of first-degree murder with an enhancement of the use of a deadly weapon. Burke’s sentencing date will be determined after a final hearing next Thursday.
Posted inLatest News
Trial begins in 2022 killing of Neoklis Koumides in downtown Santa Cruz parking garage
The trial for the murder of Neoklis Koumides — known by the nickname Nick the Greek — began Monday morning with the prosecution calling witnesses from law enforcement and unhoused individuals who were at the scene of the incident in the early morning hours of November 21, 2022.
Posted inLatest News
Fired UC Santa Cruz prof Gopal Balakrishnan settles sexual assault lawsuit by former student
Gopal Balakrishnan, a former professor at UC Santa Cruz, agreed to pay $45,000 to Anneliese Harlander, a UCSC alumna who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Balakrishnan, according to the terms of Wednesday’s settlement.
Posted inLatest News
Authorities identify UCSC student killed at Seabright Beach
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the UC Santa Cruz student killed at Seabright State Beach late last week as Zainab Mansoor, 21, of San Ramon.
Posted inLatest News
Friends, community members honor Alyx Herrmann as they await boyfriend’s arraignment for murder
Theo Lengyel, boyfriend of missing Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, is set to be arraigned on murder charges Feb. 8. Herrmann’s Outrigger Santa Cruz teammates, family and community members gathered last Sunday for a vigil at the Santa Cruz Harbor to remember how Herrmann had touched their lives.
Posted inLatest News
Suspect in Highway 1 shooting tied to other Bay Area gun crimes, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office says
33-year old Raphael Shakur Abduh-Salam is currently being held in a Contra Costa County jail after investigators arrested him in connection with a Highway 1 shooting last May. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is hopeful that he will be arraigned by the end of the month.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz police, fire investigating Circle Church blaze as arson
About 20 firefighters responded to a blaze that broke out early Tuesday at Santa Cruz’s Circle Church. Santa Cruz Fire Marshal Tim Shields said that the presence of multiple fires made it clear that arson was likely.
Posted inLatest News
Capitola woman missing since Dec. 3; boyfriend not cooperating with El Cerrito investigation
Police say Capitola’s Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, 61, has been missing since Dec. 3. Investigators say her boyfriend, Theobald “Theo” Brooks Lengyel, who also goes by Mylo Stone, is considered a person of interest but is not cooperating with authorities. Capitola police are assisting the El Cerrito-led investigation into her disappearance.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel, Latest News
Capitola to install illuminated stop signs at intersection after hit-and-run
During a Thursday night Capitola city council meeting, council members directed staff to install illuminated stop signs at the Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection.