A driver passing by Santa Cruz Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday lost control of his vehicle while negotiating an S-curve and plowed through the fence, according to news reports.
Articles by Danny Wool
Kicking the Gang Habit
There’s a new youth soccer league in California, thanks to the efforts of Bishop Richard Garcia. Some 70 kids participate in the local team, based at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz. The team was created to help keep kids off the street and away from gangs. Other teams already exist in Monterey and San Benito counties, and Bishop Garcia hopes to soon add San Luis Obispo to the roster.
Prisoner Nabbed After Daring Escape Attempt
After five tense hours and a police chase that led from the Dominican Hospital to Prospect Heights, the SCPD captured Maurice Lamont Ainsworth Jr., 24, after a failed attempt to escape from police custody. According to news reports, the trouble began at 11:30am, when a lone deputy escorted Ainsworth to Dominican Hospital for an MRI. As the deputy began placing shackles on him, Ainsworth overpowered her, punched her in the face and bit her. She attempted to tase him, but he grabbed the taser from her and used it on her instead. Then he grabbed her gun, a .40 mm semi-automatic, shot at a bystander who attempted to help the police officer and fled from the hospital.
May Day Vandalism Sentencing
It’s been seven months since the May Day unrest that saw businesses vandalized in downtown Santa Cruz. Now a judge has sentenced Jimi Haynes to two years in prison for his role in the mayhem. At the sentencing for the conviction of felony vandalism, Judge Michael Barton had harsh words for the 24-year-old homeless man, who has a history of petty theft: “Mr. Haynes, you really are an idiot. You’ve been given chance after chance after chance. You’re a thief and an idiot and an alcoholic.”
Parking Tickets May Rise Again
Did you miss putting more coins in the meter while you were doing your shopping? That could cost you another $3 if the Santa Cruz City Council has its way. At its meeting today, it will vote on whether to increase fines for parking violations by $3. City Council has proven quite skilled at increasing fines. If today’s rate hike passes, it will be the third time in two years parking fines have gone up in Santa Cruz.
Great Holiday News for Santa Cruz
Some people want an iPad for Christmas. Other people want a rat. Still others would make do with a pair of lead boxers to wear as they go through TSA screening. But in times of recession, what most people probably want this holiday season is a steady job.
Mother Files Suit Against Pub
Beverly Quaye is suing the owner of the Parish Publick House and the owner of the strip mall where the pub is located over the death of her son. According to Quaye, pub owner Erik Granath physically assaulted her son Benjamin before tossing him out of the bar for drunkenness. Quaye tried to stumble back to his residence but fell into a culvert near the adjacent railway tracks. His body was found there by a jogger the next morning.
The Price of A Good Seat
Impedimenta! Locomotor Mortis! You know that there will be more than a few people trying out these Harry Potter spells on Tarralynn Dorr and her friend Prism, especially when those people realize that Tarralynn and Prism got in to see the first showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, while they did not. Tarralynn, a loyal Muggle, didn’t need to use any magic to get the tickets and the best seats in the house. She just got in line early. Very early. Thirty hours early.
Sheriff’s Deputies Raid Marijuana Growers
Sheriff’s deputies in Santa Cruz County raided five homes in the Santa Cruz region on Thursday and made five arrests. The raids were made on the Westside and in Bonny Doon and Scotts Valley. About 400 marijuana plants were found in four of the homes, along with 100 pounds of buds valued at $300,000. In two of the homes deputies also found weapons, including eight AK-47 and five AR-15 assault rifles. In one home, the police also found a boat, valued at $40,000, believed to have been bought with the proceeds from marijuana sales.
City Clerk Heading to Mountain View
Lorrie Brewer, 50, who has recorded the discussions and decisions of Santa Cruz City Council since 2008, has resigned her position effective the end of this month. After more than two decades working with City Council, Brewer will be leaving Santa Cruz for Mountain View, where she will also serve as City Clerk.
