Watsonville Police Department Vandalized, Suspect Arrested

WATSONVILLE, CA — Watsonville police arrested a man who allegedly vandalized businesses, vehicles and the police department with a bat Saturday night. At 11:09 p.m., police responded to a report of a male suspect with a bat breaking windows in the area of the library in the 200 block of Main Street, police said.

Witnesses reported that the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Peter Fermin Gil of Watsonville, was randomly breaking windows of businesses and vehicles as he moved down Main Street, police said.
The witnesses followed Gil to the Watsonville Police Department at 215 Union Street. That's where officers confronted him in the lobby area. According to police, Gil had a bat in his hand and had broken several large windows in and around the lobby area of the police department.

He was compliant and was taken into custody without force, but police said he was screaming that he needed to, "die on the cross." According to police, Gil was in a drug-induced state, so Watsonville fire crews and paramedics responded to the scene. Gil was taken to a hospital for treatment and later booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism.

In addition to the police department, Gil allegedly vandalized five businesses and two vehicles, police said.
Anyone with further information about this case is encouraged to contact Watsonville police at (831) 768-3350 or call the Crime Tip Line at (831) 768-3544.

By Bay City News

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