Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Purse Snatcher Caught

WPD also arrests suspect in April stabbing.

A 24-year-old homeless man from Clovis was arrested on the outskirts of town after he allegedly stole a woman's purse outside a grocery store Monday afternoon, police said.

Chad Robinson followed two women out of , on Main Street and Green Valley Road, around 2:30 p.m. When the shoppers got to their car, Robinson snagged one woman's purse, police reported.

Robinson ran away. Several people tried to chase after him, but lost sight of him. Police officers tried to set up a perimeter, but 911 callers continue to report the thief was on the run, police said.

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Eventually, a California Highway Patrol officer spotted Robinson near Larkin Valley Road, about a mile north of town. Police said he was arrested and positively identified as the thief.

Robinson was arrested on suspicion of robbery. He was not listed as an inmate at Santa Cruz County Jail on Tuesday.

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In an unrelated case on Friday afternoon, police arrested a 20-year-old Watsonville man suspected of stabbing a teenager downtown in April, Sgt. Saul Gonzalez said.

Adan Valerio was picked up at a home on South Green Valley Road. Gonzalez said officers had probable cause to arrest him on suspicion of attempted murder for

Valerio, who is on probation for an earlier crime, also was jailed on suspicion of violating the terms of his probation. Police said he was selling cocaine and marijuana. His bail was set at $400,000.

Watsonville police log, Monday, May 9

6:45 a.m.—Police investigated a stolen vehicle report on Main Street north of Green Valley Road. Jose Manuel Vasquez, 31, was arrested. Chad Robinson, who allegedly stole a purse later in the day, also was involved, police said.

3:48 p.m.—Susan Broadway, 67, was arrested after allegedly shoplifting at Target. She has prior theft convictions, police said.

5:39 p.m.—Alfredo Luis Soto, 50, crashed his car near 32 Carr Street. Police arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence.

6:36 p.m.—David Turley, 53, was arrested on the 100 block of Crespi Circle for warrants. He also allegedly had a syringe and meth pipe with him.

10:40 p.m.—Maria Ramirez, 30 was arrested on a warrant during a car stop on the 100 block of Airport Boulevard. She was cited and released.

Sunday, May 8

1:24 a.m. —Arturo Guerrera, 46, was arrested for public intoxication on California Street at Brewington Avenue.

3:25 a.m.—Elias Vega-Cortez, 30, was arrested on suspicion of DUI after crashing his car into a tree on the 500 block of Main Street.

8:37 a.m.—Two tires were slashed on a car parked on the 1700 block of West Beach Street.

9:59 a.m.—A car was keyed on the 400 block of East Beach Street.

6:56 p.m.—Police found methamphetamine, heroin, hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia during a probation search on the 400 block of Argos Circle. Ronald Sandoval, Veronica Carrillo and Robert Alonzo were arrested.

7:39 p.m.—Herminio Garica was stopped for vehicle code violations on Main and Second streets. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI; he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14, police said.

10:16 p.m.—Rene Aguilar was arrested for being drunk in public on the 1100 block of Madison Street.

10:58 p.m.—David Beeson, 66, was arrested after he allegedly put used tires on Airport Boulevard to create a makeshift roadblock west of Freedom Boulevard. He was yelling at passing motorists and nearly caused a collision.

Saturday, May 7

8:52 a.m.—A woman left her purse in a cart at Target on Friday and went home. On Saturday, she went back for it, but her purse was gone.

8:59 a.m.—Miguel Navarro allegedly hit a coworker in the back of the head with a pressure washer. The workplace violence happened on the 1700 block of West Beach Street.

10:26 a.m.—A car was vandalized on the 100 block of Jeannette Way.

10:52 a.m.—A car was broken into on the 100 block of Roache Road.

2:02 p.m.—During a family dispute on the 400 block of Bridge Street, Carlos Cornejo, 25, was arrested for being drunk in pubic.

6:13 p.m.—Joshua Oscar Pedemonte, 23, was cited for a warrant on the 300 block of East Beach Street.

9:11 p.m.—Bernardo Rubio Herrera, 22, was arrested for DUI after he allegedly hit a parked car on the 100 block of Ford Street and tried to run away. Police said his blood-alcohol level was 0.16-0.17, and he also didn't have a valid driver's license.

10:28 p.m.—Miguel Hernandez was arrested on the 400 block of Second Street for being drunk in public. An hour later, Carlos Souza, 38, was arrested on the same charge on the 100 block of Landis Drive

10:40 p.m.—John Pena, 29, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and not having a driver's license on Lake Village at Brentwood Drive.

11:08 p.m.—A woman said she was battered and robbed after a traffic accident on the 1000 block of South Green Valley Road. The assailant reportedly opened her car door, grabbed for her phone, then stole her purse and ran.

Friday, May 6

1:09 a.m.—Police responded to a gang fight on the 1900 block of Main Street.

8:15 a.m.–Fernando Bernabe was pulled over while driving on the 100 block of West Lake Avenue. He had a warrant out of Monterey County and was arrested.

8:30 a.m.—A thief smashed a glass door at , then stole $5 worth of tortilla chips. No arrests were made.

8:43 a.m.—Somone stole copper piping worth $171.20 from outside a business on the 1200 block of Lincoln Street. The theft also caused $300 damage to the business.

10:41 a.m.—Micha Pilipe Howard, 26, was cited for having a smoking pipe on Madison Street at Crestview Drive.

11:59 a.m.—A 14-year-old Watsonville High student had marijuana at school.

1:23 p.m.—A youth was arrested for shoplifting on the 1200 block of Freedom Boulevard.

3:23 p.m.—Scott Leroy, 42, was arrested for being drunk in public. He was sitting on the sidewalk at Rodriguez and West Beach streets.

4:33 p.m.—Lorenzo Sanchez, 35, was arrested on a warrant on the 100 block of Porta Vista Court.

8:35 p.m.—Esmeralda Serrato allegedly pulled another woman's hair and rammed her shopping cart into the woman's vehicle on the 400 block of Main Street. Serrato was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public and battery.


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