Police Blotter: Escaped Female Prisoner Caught

A homeless woman who escaped police custody Wednesday after being detained for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle was arrested Thursday morning in Watsonville, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Jennifer Nicole Murotsune, 30, was caught at a motel around 8:40 a.m., according to the CHP.

Highway Patrol officers and the county's Anti-Crime Team had been searching for her since she got away from CHP officers around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.

Murotsune had been pulled over near Highway 17 by a CHP officer who noticed the stolen car, a 1993 Honda Prelude. However, during the investigation Murotsune escaped—the CHP did not detail how that occured—prompting the manhunt.

She was arrested Thursday on suspicion of  auto theft, possessing of stolen property and drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and escaping police custody.

Watsonville police log, Wednesday, May 18

6:49 a.m.—A vandal scratched gang graffiti onto the hood and trunk of a car parked on Silver Leaf Drive and Green Meadow.

8:07 a.m.—A vandal damaged the windshield of a car parked on the 100 block of West Fifth Street.

8:32 a.m.—Someone turned in a counterfeit $100 bill received six months ago.

10:45 a.m.—A 90-year-old man was the victim of identity theft.

11:15 a.m.—A computer was taken from an open mezzanine area in the past five days. The theft happened on the 200 block of Green Valley Road.

12:35 a.m.—Luis Arturo Moreno-Martinez, 28, got a ticket for smoking pot on the third floor of the city parking garage on West Beach Street.

2:52 p.m.—Emilio Padilla, 31, was arrested on Orange Blossom Way and Chappell Road for a warrant.

6:40 p.m.—Isaac Rodriguez was stopped for blowing through a stop sign at Beck Street and McKenzie Avenue on his bike. He had a warrant and was arrested.

7:56 p.m.—Ismael Torres, 18, and two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of petty theft, possessing stolen property and resisting arrest on the 1400 block of Main Street.

9:18 p.m.—Lynn Jacinto, 31, was arrested on an out-of-county warrant on the 100 block of Holm Road.

9:45 p.m.—Ramon Cruz, 40, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a 30-year-old man on the 100 block of Main Street. Police said the beating was gang-motivated.

10:20 p.m.—Filimon Valdez, 75, was arrested on a warrant on the 200 block of Union Street.