Arrests, Citations Up During Cruz New Year's Eve Celebrations

SANTA CRUZ - Santa Cruz police said arrests and citations during New Year’s Eve celebrations downtown were up this year and one officer was injured during an arrest, but there were no serious violent incidents.

A city-sponsored Countdown Celebration downtown drew an estimated 3,500 people this year, as compared to around 4,000 last year, police said.

Between 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 5 a.m. Friday, police responded to 161 calls for service citywide, slightly more than last year’s 159.

In the downtown area, police reported 28 arrests, including 11 for public intoxication. During the same period last year, only 19 people were arrested.

Police also issued 53 citations, including 27 for triple fine citations, primarily for open containers of alcohol. Last year only 38 citations were issued.

One officer was injured during an arrest around 2 a.m., when police responded to a report of a person causing a disturbance in a store in the 2200 block of Mission Street.

The suspect allegedly fled and resisted arrest, and then fought with two officers, at one point trying to grab one officer’s utility belt. Police used a Taser to stun him once before taking him into custody.

The suspect, identified as Soquel resident Todd Shores, 46, was arrested on suspicion of theft, trespassing and resisting arrest.

-Bay City News, image via SCPD