Just three weeks ago, the police began handing out their most wanted lists to local media outlets. It has paid off. Two people have been arrested and one decided it wasn’t worth running and surrendered peacefully to the police of her own volition.
Just three weeks ago, the police began handing out their most wanted lists to local media outlets. It has paid off. Two people have been arrested and one decided it wasn’t worth running and surrendered peacefully to the police of her own volition.
In Santa Cruz, police arrested Erik Jon Vlach, 21, who was wanted for a Nov. 25 carjacking. Though he was arrested at the time, he failed to show up for court. The tipoff was a call from a motel on Ocean Street about a possible runaway teen. Police found the teen, together with Vlach, along with heroin and hashish. Vlach was especially helpful during his arrest. He was already wearing a pair of orange-colored prison shorts, even though he hadn’t escaped from prison. No worries. At least he won’t have to be outfitted when he is booked.
The next to be arrested was Edward James Merino, 49, wanted on drugs charges by Scotts Valley police. He was arrested at a Pacific Avenue restaurant after police were told they could find him there.
One week earlier, Louisa Katrina Dubinsky, a mortgage broker wanted on charges of embezzlement, turned herself in. According to her lawyer, she did not know that there was a warrant for her arrest.
Sheriff Phil Wowak praised the new policy of releasing the names to the media, calling it “a minor example of what can be done with this system.” He went on to express his gratitude to the community for participating in the effort. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
