Police Blotter: Broken Tailight Leads to Pot Bust

A burned-out tailight beckoned Watsonville police officers to one of the largest marijuana seizures of the year in the city Saturday night.

Virakbot Oung, 28, was pulled over for the vehicle code violation on Lincoln Street at Riverside Drive around 6:40 p.m., according to police. Officers reported they could smell pot in his car, giving them probable cause to search the vehicle.

Police reportedly found 2.5 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle.

Oung was arrested on suspicion of transporting marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale.

Watsonville Police Log, Sunday, Oct. 2

12:15 a.m.—Hilberto Perez, 30, was arrested for public intoxication on the 500 block of Auto Center Drive. Ten minutes later, Eduardo Ramirez, 60, was arrested for the same charge on the 100 block of Riverside Drive.

12:59 a.m.—Police investigated a hit-and-run crash on the 100 block of Holm Road.

3:05 a.m.—Officers stopped a car that was weaving and playing loud music on Main Street at Holm Road. The driver, Jesus Chico, 47, allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 and was arrested for DUI.

12:17 p.m.—Police investigated a marijuana case on the 100 block of Harkins Slough Road.

9:05 p.m.—Benjamin Rodriguez Moreno was stopped on Lincoln and Maple avenues for being involved in a hit-and-run crash. He was arrested for DUI and the hit and run.

Saturday, Oct. 1

7:24 p.m.—Oscar Quinoez, 43, and Salvador Ochoa, 36, were arrested for public intoxication on the 100 block of Union Street.

8:06 p.m.—A 13-year-old boy reportedly reached into a car and stole a wallet off a man's lap. The teen, who was with two others, then threatened the man with a knife. He was arrested.

10:46 p.m.—Ignacia Rincon, 38, was arrested for DUI on the 900 block of Lincoln Street.

Friday, Sept. 30

1:12 a.m.—Juan Vidales, 42, was pulled over on East Lake Avenue at Beverly Drive. He had a warrant and got a ticket.

2:04 a.m.—A car burglar broke a window of a vehicle at Stanford and Madison streets. Items were stolen.

2:47 a.m.—Alishia Davis, 22, was arrested for being drunk in public on the 500 block of Palm Avenue.

5:07 a.m.—Felix Padilla, 29, was arrested for warrants on the 100 block of West Beach Street.

6:09 a.m.—A vandal smashed the window on a 2006 Chevy Cobalt parked on the 100 block of Silver Leaf Drive.

7:16 a.m.—Carlos Cornejo, 26 was arrested for a probation violation on the 400 block of Bridge Street.

11:54 a.m.—Vandals damaged a car parked on the 100 block of Terry Loop. The damage happened overnight.

2:15 p.m.—A would-be burglar tried to break into closed business on the 100 block of Aspen Way by sliding open the windows. No entry was made, but police found graffiti.

2:41 p.m.—Kevin Lammar Smith, 29, and Michael Anthony Womack, 25, allegedly used a business account to buy $7,014.06 worth of equipment. They were arrested on suspicion of burglary, forgery, possessing stolen property and conspiracy.

3:47 p.m.—A car stereo was stolen from a vehicle on the 100 block of Jefferson Street.

3:57 p.m.—A studio apartment on the 500 block of California Street was burglarized during the day.

5:26 p.m.—Tony Herrera, 25, was arrested for burlgary and resisting police after he allegedly broke into his parent's home and challenged his dad to a fight.

6:19 p.m.—Joel Solorzano, 18, was arrested for being on the Watsonville High School campus. He was there with two other teens, but was violating the terms of his probation.

6:29 p.m.—A 64-year-old woman reported two people tried to trick her into giving them $12,000 cash for about $20,000 in jewelry in a lottery scam. Detectives are investigating.

10 p.m.—There was gang graffiti found on a building on the 1800 block of Freedom Boulevard.