Police Blotter: Playground Vandalism, Robbery

Here are the two biggest cases in Watsonville so far this week: 

• Vandals damaged slides at three school playgrounds, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District confirmed to the Register Pajaronian newspaper. The destruction likely occurred Monday night and will cost thousands to repair. School officials said they plan to have the play equipment fixed before classes resume next month. 
• A man dressed in motorcycle gear robbed a Watsonville auto parts store  Sunday evening, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. The robbery happened just after 8 p.m. on the 400 block of Rodriguez Street, according to police reports. The robber, who was armed with a handgun, forced employees into the bathroom while he escaped with cash, the Sentinel reported.

Watsonville Police Reports
Monday, July 15

Warrant arrest: A man was picked up on Crestview and Brookshire drives just after midnight.

Burglary: A thief cut the lock on a trailer on the 200 block of Hushbeck Avenue and took items. 

Drug paraphernalia possession: A man pulled over on Marchant Street and Riverside Drive had a suspended license and drug paraphernalia.

Warrant Arrest: A 26-year-old man was ticketed on Riverside Drive west of Blackburn Street.

ID Theft: A man reported his name and information was used in Bell Gardens to get cable services.

Vandalism: Gang tags were scratched into the hood of a man's pickup truck while it was parked in front of his home.

Warrant arrest: A man was ticketed on the 300 block of Crestview Drive.

Drug possession: A man was ticketed for having two methamphetamine pipes when a vehicle he was a passenger in was pulled over at Rogge and Beck streets.

Shoplifting: A man was arrested on the 1700 block of Freedom Boulevard.

Soliciting: A man and woman were arrested at 7-Eleven the 100 block of East Lake Avenue.

Sunday, July 14
Public intoxication: A man was arrested for being drunk and violating his probation on the 200 block of Clifford Avenue. 

Warrant arrest: A man was arrested for a felony warrant on the 100 block of Airport Road.

Illegal discharge of waste: A security guard caught a man was caught defecating in public at the Metro Center on Rodriguez Street.

Carry a knife: A man arrested for shoplifting on the 1400 block of Main Street was also caught with an illegal knife.