Police Blotter: Drunken Taxi Driver Goes Wrong Way on Highway 1

A California Highway Patrol plane was called to sleuth out a Santa Cruz taxi driver who went the wrong way down Highway 1 in Aptos and caused other drivers to crash Monday afternoon, the CHP reported.

Steve Sharek, 57, got on the highway at State Park Drive just before 2 p.m. but drove north in the southbound lanes, according to the CHP.

A 47-year-old Aptos woman driving a Suburban and another Aptos woman, 57, driving a Toyota Avalon collided with each other when they tried to avoid Sharek's cab.

Sharek fled in his taxi but several people called 911. The CHP contacted the cab company and sent a fixed-wing aircraft up to search for the taxi.

The CHP reportedly found Sharek around 6 pm. on Market Street in Santa Cruz. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and hit and run.

Watsonville police log, Monday, May 16

8 a.m.—Four teenage boys spray painted graffiti at on the 200 block of Brewington Avenue.

9:13 a.m.—Police arrested Eric Miller, 31, on the 100 block of Chestnut Street on suspicion of battery and resisting arrest.

10:28 a.m.—Joshua Tullis was cited for allegedly having a small amount of marijuana. He was ticketed at Harkins Slough Road and Ohlone Parkway.

11:15 a.m.—A vandal keyed a car on the 100 block of Marchant Street.

6:53 p.m.—Selma Lozano, 43, was arrested on misdemeanor warrants on the 100 block of Blanca Lane. She was taken to jail.

Sheriff's Office, Saturday, May 14

5:15 p.m.—A thief broke into a classroom at on Casserly Road and stole a laptop.

Friday May 13

Three men were arrested by the county Gang Task Force at 115 Tierra Alta for allegedly having a concealed, unregistered handgun. Michael Anthony Gonzalez, Brian Medina Campos and Uriel Ortiz Hernandez were jailed.