Crime & Safety
Santa Cruz Police Arrest Man After Stabbing In Hate Crime Case
Anthony Williams, 39, allegedly followed two men, used homophobic language and brandished two knives, police said.
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz police arrested a 39-year-old Watsonville man in connection with the stabbing of a man early Tuesday.
Officers responded to a 3:45 a.m. report of a stabbing in the area of Beach and Main streets and found one man with a stab wound to his leg.
Shortly thereafter, officers found the suspect, Anthony Williams, and arrested him on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics (a hate crime) and possession of a concealed dagger.
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The investigation revealed that the victim and another man were walking in the 100 block of Main Street, when they were confronted by Williams calling them homophobic epithets and brandishing two knives.
Although the two men tried to de-escalate the situation, police said, the suspect attacked without provocation, stabbing one of the men in the leg before fleeing the scene.
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The injured man was taken to a local hospital with significant injuries that were not life threatening.
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