Downtown Santa Cruz Halloween: 18 Arrested, 42 Citations Issued

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Halloween night was relatively tame for law enforcement officers patrolling downtown Santa Cruz this year as arrests declined from 2016, but the number of citations increased, according to Santa Cruz police. Police said an estimated 9,000 people converged on the downtown area Tuesday night for the seasonal celebration that is known as the "largest single informal gathering in the city."

The department answered 342 calls between 8 a.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday, police said. In downtown Santa Cruz on Halloween night, 18 people were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, warrants or drug-related offenses and 42 citations were written. Police said 15 "Triple Fine" violations among the citations were issued, most for open containers of alcohol and public urination. No significant incidents of violence were reported Tuesday night, police said.

Proactive patrols of the area included contact and monitoring of known gang members throughout the night.
The department received help from the California Highway Patrol and one of its helicopters, the Capitola, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and the UC Santa Cruz police departments along with the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office.

On Halloween night last year, police arrested 20 people and wrote 40 citations in the downtown area, police said.

By Bay City News

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