The Weekly Dump 6.4.21

Post Pandemic Memorial Day in Santa Cruz 

Warm weather in the Bay Area brought flocks of people from over the hill trying to escape the heat over Memorial Day weekend. Traffic was gridlocked around downtown and the wharf. The beaches were packed. We’re becoming more “normalized”. It remains to be seen if that’s actually a good or bad thing, but for now I guess it’s good for the city and county. They need the tourist tax money.

And lots of new development going on around town. The bum Taco Bell at Laurel and Pacific is now just a pile of rubble, as heavy machinery has laid waste to that block of Pacific and Front between Laurel. A new mixed use project is cranking forward in full time now. The Pacific Front Mixed-Use Development Project will be a six-story, 315,698 square foot mixed-use building with 205 residential apartments and 10,656 square feet of ground floor commercial space at the corner of Laurel and Pacific, extending the block of Laurel to Front Street. It will re-shape downtown (in my opinion for the better), improve residential density downtown, add new housing stock, create jobs that will benefit the service companies downtown, and finally clean up that shit hole corner. Now let’s get rid of Bonesio’s!

You can read more about this project on the city’s website.

Packing Heat Downtown

Sunday night around 6:30PM, SCPD responded to the area of Elm and Cedar in downtown Santa Cruz after getting reports of someone with gun. They sent multiple units down to the area and eventually arrested a 36 year old male and a 30 year old female, charging them with felony drug possession while carrying a loaded gun, carrying a loaded stolen gun, possession of stolen property, and drug possession. People hanging out with stolen guns at Elm and Cedar and read below what happens about 6 hours later on the same block downtown…..

Early Morning Gunfight Erupts Downtown

Monday morning just after midnight, there was a gunfight in front of the Tea House Spa. Witnesses reported seeing two groups of people shooting at each other on the 100 block of Elm Street. One shooter left in a vehicle and the other reportedly left on foot. Police found multiple bullet casings at Elm and Pacific. Nobody has been arrested and no suspects have been identified. “Beat 60”. (inside joke some of you might get).

Getting Assaulted With a Deadly Weapon in Friendship Gardens

Monday morning around 5:30AM, SCPD responded to the 300 block of Evergreen Street for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. They found the suspect in the Friendship Gardens area, where they arrested a 39 year old transient male and charged him with felony assault with a deadly weapon.  He was of course ON PROBATION. Apparently both the victim and suspect “live” in RVs parked over in Harvey West Park.

Making the Baby Jesus Cry

This past Tuesday morning around 5AM, some bum in a van broke in to Holy Cross School and ransacked a classroom as he stole multiple items from the school. SCPD identified the suspect as a 55 year old local male transient. The suspected thief apparently had 7 outstanding warrants for his arrest, and was on pretrial release (“PTA” aka “Get Out of Jail free”) with an ankle monitor, which he cut off in April. On Thursday around 5:30AM, SCPD located the van in the Food Not Bums parking lot and arrested him in the area of Laurel Street and Front Street. Last check, he’s still in jail and his bail has been set at $100k?!? NOW they must really want to keep this guy in jail.

Set Up Like a Bowling Pin

Saturday night around 6:30PM, SCPD responded to the Santa Cruz Harbor after getting a call that a car had crashed into 5 different vehicles at the X1 dock with an unconscious male. CHP came out and did a drunk test on the driver, who was arrested for DUI.

A Running Stolen Car Isn’t a Good Place to Pass Out

Saturday morning around 7:30AM, SCPD responded after medics requested assistance with a call involving someone passed out in a car with the engine running. When they tried to respond, the driver tried to drive away but was stopped near the ACE hardware on Seabright. When they ran the driver and the vehicle out, they didn’t match since the owner was a woman and the guy driving it wasn’t. Turns out the car was stolen and the owner didn’t know it. Car thief was arrested.

It’s Good to Have Friends With Narcan

Friday night around midnight, SCPD responded to a possible overdose at Friendship Gardens near Harvey West Park. The victim ended up receiving a total of 5 doses of Narcan before he was apparently revived. Lives to play another day.

You Deserve a Break Today

Friday night around 8:30PM, SCPD responded to the parking lot of the McDonalds on Ocean Street after getting reports of a stolen car parked in the parking lot. SCPD responded and executed a high risk stop at gunpoint of the vehicle, which contained the driver and 2 passengers. All 3 had outstanding warrants in counties that wouldn’t pick them up.

Subjective Law Enforcement Fail

Saturday morning around 6:00AM, SCPD responded to the Pacific Apartments located at 1010 Pacific Avenue for reports of someone causing a ruckus. Apparently the same guy caused a similar ruckus the night before but he wasn’t properly dealt with at the time (as in he wasn’t actually arrested) so why not keep acting out when there’s no repercussions for doing it. Did I mention he’s also on parole and violated it? he was and if he violated it Saturday morning, he violated it Friday night as well but nothing was done. Until Saturday. They finally arrested him for felony vandalism (penny bail!), tampering with a fire alarm (penny bail!), and a parole violation (still in jail!).

Watsonville Thieves Arrested

Early last Friday morning, Watsonville Police responded to Blanca Lane after getting reports of a car burglary in progress. The witness and victim confronted the suspects as one of them attempted to unlock her vehicle with a tool while the other suspect had already popped the hood of the car and disconnected the battery. The suspects fled the scene and hid behind a parked car in a nearby parking lot but were quickly caught. Two men were arrested for attempted vehicle burglary and vehicle tampering.

Faith, Hope, and Charity

Watsonville police said a gang member was arrested after he was found with a gun Thursday afternoon. Officers served a search warrant at his home on Faith Drive and said they found a loaded handgun, ammunition and a holster. The 28 year old was arrested on suspicion of being a felon with a gun and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

Two People Killed in Corralitos Crash

Two men died and a woman suffered major injuries last Sunday night around 8:30PM in a head-on collision on Corralitos Road south of Varni Road in Santa Cruz County. A 2003 Ford Mustang was driving south at a high rate of speed when the driver of the lost control and veered into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with a 1998 Honda Accord, according to the CHP. Two men in the Mustang died at the scene. The driver was a 33 year old man from Freedom. The passenger was not identified. A 32 year old woman driving the Honda was taken to a trauma center with major injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation and alcohol and drugs have not been ruled out as contributing factors, the CHP said.

Big Basin Vineyards to Open Wine Bar Downtown

I saw this announcement this week, and when I saw the location was going to be at 525 Pacific Avenue I was pleasantly surprised. This retail space has been vacant since the building project opened. The ground level retail space is perfect for something like this. It will help redevelop and improve the N. Pacific Avenue corridor between downtown and the wharf for foot traffic.

Get Your Swagger On!

I have swag! I’m working with Spreadshirt and have my own shop. I just put some basic products up to start with for now with the new logo. You can also click “Customize” and “Products” and pick from other products not currently available in my store. Contact me with any questions or issues. Nothing would make me happier than to see people out and about with my swag. I want photos! I’ve never asked for money, and I still plan to continue to do the Weekly Dump each week and make it available for free, without any paywall or ads or spam (or salary). Think of this as a way of donating to the effort and getting something back for your donation (I only make a few bucks on each item sold). I’d love to do more with Santa Mierda if I had the means to do so. This will help provide the means to do so. And it helps get the word out. The hell with the coronavirus, let’s make this viral. Being stuck inside is the perfect time for online shopping! I’ll love you long time if you buy my swag.

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