Police Blotter: Gang Altercation Leads to Police Chase

A boy walking to school had a run-in with rival gang members Thursday morning that led to a car crash, a police chase and the arrests of two gang members, reported.

The incident started around 9 a.m. when the boy was crossing South Green Valley Road at Carey Avenue and two gang members in a car either yelled slurs at him or struck him with the vehicle, police said.

The boy wasn’t hurt, but his father happened to see what happened and, in his own vehicle, chased the gang members’ car west down Green Valley Road, Lt. David McCartney of Watsonville police said. The cars collided near Loma Prieta Avenue, and the gang members drove away.

The gang members’ car, driven by Michael Gonzalez, 20, went up Loma Prieta to Airport Boulevard, then west to Highway 1 and headed north. Other law enforcement agencies stopped the car near 41st Avenue in Capitola, McCartney said.

Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, gang participation and a probation violation. His passenger, a 16-year-old boy, was jailed for allegedly disobeying a court order, police said.

Watsonville police log, Thursday, Feb. 3

12:10 a.m.—Hector Martinez Garcia, 35, was arrested on a felony warrant on the 200 block of Bockius Street.

11:20 a.m.—Joshua Zepeda, 22, was arrested on the 200 block of Sudden Street for a misdemanor warrant and on suspicion he had marijuana.

3:39 p.m.— A 48-year-old Watsonville woman reported her identity was stolen.

5:45 p.m.-A woman left her vehicle unlocked overnight in her driveway, on the 100 block of Loma Prieta Avenue, and several items were taken.

9:44 p.m.—Daymon Reyna, 18, was arrested at Rodriguez and Ford streets on supsicion of possessing marijuana.

10:26 p.m.—Jose Luis Mata, 37, a deported felon who had come back to the United States, was contacted by officers on the 100 block of Marchant Street. He allegedly gave false information to police and was arrested.

Wednesday, Feb. 2

9:22 a.m.—An ambulance took Ruben Hernandez Jr., 29, from the 100 block of Landis Avenue to Watsonville Community Hospital. Hernandez allegedly was high on methamphetamine. He also had a misdemeanor warrant and was arrested.

11:39 a.m.—Shandon Dion Spotswood, 40, was picked up on a probation violation at Harkins Slough and South Green Valley roads.

2:01 p.m.—Theresa Lusky, 48, allegedly hit a 31-year-old woman in the face with the heel of a shoe, then bit the woman's left eyebrow and her left hand. Lusky was arrested on the 1000 block of South Green Valley Road.

7 p.m.—A 16-year-old boy was arrested on the 100 block of West Beach Street on suspicion of vandalism and violating his probation. He was taken to Juvenile Hall.

8:32 p.m.—Two teenage boys were spotted allegedly scrawling graffiti on the side of a building on the 300 block of Montecito Avenue with black markers. They are on probation for vandalism. Both were arrested and booked at Juvenile Hall.

8:43 p.m.—Someone reported a break-in at a home on the 100 block of Franich Drive. The burglar went in through an open window and stole items.

11:20 p.m.—Gabrael Chavez, 23, was arrested at Dominios Pizza on Main Street for allegedly possessing an illegal weapon. Police were called because of a "suspicious person."