4 Armed Robberies; DUI; Pursuit: Rowdy Santa Cruz St. Paddy's Day

SANTA CRUZ, CA — So much for the luck of the Irish.

Law enforcement across Santa Cruz County had an exceptionally busy night Wednesday — St. Patrick's Day — which included four armed robberies, a fire on the side of State Route 1 and a crash involving a driver suspected of driving under the influence, Santa Cruz police said.

"Not the typical St. Patrick's Day alcohol-related calls for service and minor disturbances," police said.

The first call of the night came around 5:30 p.m., when police received a noise complaint in downtown Santa Cruz. Officers arrived to find open alcohol bottles and drugs in plain sight, police said. A person was arrested and found to have a gun and drugs packaged for sale, police said.

About 15 minutes later, a large fire was reported next to State Route 1. The fire, which burned along the railroad tracks, consumed power lines and nearby trees, police said.

An armed robbery in the 400 block of Barson St. was reported hours later at 9:10 p.m. The suspect fled the area.

Twenty minutes later, police spotted a person with multiple felony warrants while looking for the robbery suspect. They fled in a car along State Route 17. Police followed the car all the way to the Lexington Reservoir, at which point San Jose police and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office joined in the chase, police said.

At 10:10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively, armed robberies were reported in the 2300 block of Mission Street and the 1300 block of Ocean Street.

Then came the suspected DUI crash into a residential building near the Murray Street bridge at 10:32 p.m. The California Highway Patrol responded and helped arrest the driver, police said.

The night capped off with a fourth armed robbery in the 300 block of Soquel Avenue, police said.