Crime & Safety

SEE: Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office Arrests 3; Recovers Guns, Drugs

In two separate incidents Thursday, officials say they arrested a duo with a slew of drugs, plus a man with multiple arrest warrants.

These items were located at an Ocean Street,
These items were located at an Ocean Street, (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office)

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Officials with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team recovered guns and drugs in two separate investigations Thursday. A total of three men were arrested.

Officials first arrested Dante Packer, 22, who was wanted in connection with a recent kidnapping investigation led by Santa Cruz police, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Jail records show that Packer — who remained in Santa Cruz County Jail as of Friday morning — was also booked on arrest warrants from law enforcement in San Jose and San Francisco for a slew of mostly gun-related crimes. Packer is facing 14 charges in all, records show.

Officials found parker had a loaded gun in his waistband, a fake gun and eight pounds of cannabis, according to the sheriff's office.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The special enforcement team later headed to an Ocean Street hotel, where David J. Braun, 54, and Donald C. Peter, 59, were arrested on suspicion of charges related to drugs and guns, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials conducted a search and found 438 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of heroin, a gram of cocaine, an AR-15 assault rifle and a .22 caliber revolver, according to the sheriff's office. They also found packaging, scales, and pay and owe sheets, according to the sheriff's office.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Possession of drugs for sale is among the charges that Braun and Peter are facing, jail records show.

Yesterday, the Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team (SET) contacted and arrested Dante Packer who was wanted in...
Posted by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office on Friday, April 16, 2021

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