Crime & Safety

Man Stabs Woman Christmas Morning, Flees From Police with Two Young Children

Carlos Sanchez, 36, stabbed a female victim, 35, before leading police on a chase with two young children in the car.

On early Tuesday, a 36-year-old man stabbed a woman and then fled in a car with two young children, leading police on a chase.

At 2:25 a.m. Tuesday, Watsonville Police were dispatched to a victim’s report of a stabbing in the 20 block of Sydney Ave. 

Officers found a female victim, 35, suffering from at least one stab wound to the upper torso, according to Watsonville Police. Carlos Sanchez, 36, who is known to the victim, had stabbed her, and then fled the scene, in a vehicle with two young children. 

A countywide Be On The Lookout (BOL) was placed, and Sanchez was located in the un-incorporated area of Watsonville by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputies.

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Sanchez led SCSO Deputies, the California Highway Patrol Officers and Watsonville Police officers on a pursuit throughout the city and out to northbound Hwy 1.

The chance ended in the area of Freedom Blvd. and Hwy 1. After a short standoff with law enforcement, Sanchez was safely taken into custody and the children were safely located. 

The victim was treated at the scene by members of the Watsonville Fire Department and American Medical Response Medics, and then transported by helicopter to a Bay Area Trauma Center for her life threatening injuries. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the victim was not in stable condition.

This case is being investigated by the Watsonville Police Department Investigations Bureau, who encourages anyone with information about the case to call 768-3350 or the Watsonville Police Anonymous Tip line at 768-3544.

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