UC Santa Cruz Police Department

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UC Santa Cruz Police Department

UC Santa Cruz Police: Ensuring safety, fostering relationships and building community.

08/18/2026

Stolen Bike Recovered!

Last week one of our UCSC students, who is staying on campus for the summer, reported their locked bicycle had been stolen from Stevenson College. The bicycle had an AirTag on it when it was taken and the AirTag showed it was in the area near Coral Street. Officers responded to the scene, with the bike owner, and tracked the location of the AirTag as it moved up the San Lorenzo River levy footpath.

The AirTag finally stopped moving near San Lorenzo Park and UCSC Officers contacted Rudy Hernandez Salas (64), who was in possession of the stolen bike. He claimed he was holding it for some unidentified person and had no idea it was stolen. Officers did not believe his story, arrested him for possession of stolen property, and booked him at county jail. The bicycle was returned to its rightful owner at the scene, who was very happy to get their bike back less than an hour after reporting it missing.

06/17/2026

Bike Thief Arrested!

Most of our students, but not all, moved off campus at the end of the school session last week. Last night one of our remaining alert student residents noticed a suspicious person messing with a locked bike on campus and called UCPD. Officers quickly arrived on scene and contacted Kelly Cassidy (40) of Boulder Creek near the bike rack and in possession of bolt cutters. One of the bike’s front wheels had been removed and was now free of the lock.

Cassidy, who was already on probation for theft, admitted he was looking for abandoned bicycles left behind after the students moved off campus. It was pointed out that the bicycle in question had been locked to the bike rack before his arrival, so it was obviously not abandoned. He was arrested for the theft and being in violation of his probation terms.

We want to thank the alert student who saw the theft in progress and called the police. If not for their actions we would have had yet another unsolved bike theft on campus.

06/16/2026

Congrats UCSC 2026 Graduates!!🎉 Good Luck On Your Next Adventures!

06/09/2026

TEAMWORK SAVES A LIFE!

Earlier this year our department received a call from a Santa Cruz resident, who was walking the trails on the UCSC campus, who stated they believed they were experiencing a life-threatening medical condition. The caller’s cell phone abruptly hung up, and our 911 dispatcher could not get the person to answer the phone again.

Sergeant Watson and Officer Venzon immediately responded, arrived on scene within three minutes, and found the person unconscious and not breathing. They performed lifesaving efforts until Santa Cruz Fire Department arrived and the person survived the incident after being transported to the hospital. Everyone who responded to the scene agreed that if Sergeant Watson and Officer Venzon had not arrived so quickly the outcome would have been different.

Last month Sergeant Watson received the UCPD Lifesaving Medal, and Officer Venzon received a Chief’s Commendation Award, for their efforts that day. A Commendation Award also went out to the Santa Cruz Fire Department and Fire Chief Robert Oatey accepted the award on this team’s behalf. We want to thank everyone involved that day who helped save a life. It is that level of first responder teamwork that keeps our community safe.

06/01/2026

This weekend one of our UCSC student's reported someone has stolen his locked bicycle sometime overnight in front of Crown College. The owner stated he had an Air Tag the bicycle and it was showing it was somewhere near the 400 block of Encinal Street.

UCSC Officers responded to the area to locate the bike, but one of our partners at the Santa Cruz Police Department was already on the case and located the stolen bike in the back of a pickup parked on Encinal Street before our officers arrived.

The owner of the pickup, Juan Poncearenas, was contacted by police and claimed he had no idea the bike was stolen, however, his story did not add up and he was arrested for possession of stolen property.

We want to thank SCPD for their assistance in this case and helping us return the bicycle back to it's rightful owner.

05/18/2026

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating a string of car burglaries that occurred early this morning in parking lots near the intersection of Heller and McLaughlin drive.

Six cars were reported as having their windows broken and belongings stolen. Anyone with information about this incident should call 831-459-2231 ext.1.

To reduce the likelihood of a car break-ins, it is recommended that you roll up vwindows and lock all doors before leaving your vehicle. Store valuable items in your trunk while driving to your destination. After your arrive home it is important to take all valuable belongings with you because if you leave property visible in your vehicle it could become a target.

04/22/2026

On April 8th a UCSC student reported someone had stolen his bicycle in the middle of the night, which had been secured outside his residence with a lock. On April 18th the victim called UCSC PD again and stated someone was trying to sell his stolen bicycle on Facebook Marketplace.

Officer Yorton was determined to get the bike back to the student, so he set up a meeting with the suspect online, posing as a potential buyer, and agreed to meet the suspect in downtown Santa Cruz. When Officer Yorton arrived at the predesignated location he surprised the suspect, later identified as Earnest Edwards (52), who was in possession of the stolen bike.

Edwards claimed he had no idea the bicycle was stolen, however, his credibility was put in question when it was determined that he been out on pre-trial OR by the courts only a few days earlier after promising to “obey all laws” following an arrest for possessing stolen property in a Scotts Valley Police Department case. Officer Yorton arrested Edwards for being in possession of stolen property again and the stolen bicycle was returned to its rightful owner.

04/16/2026

Come see us today at Cabrillo College’s job fair!

04/15/2026

Come see us today until 2pm at the Monterey Peninsula College career fair!

04/14/2026

💛HAPPY NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK💛

Our dispatchers are the first first responders, coordinating help, gathering critical information, and keeping everyone safe.

Thank you for the work you do every day!

Address

1156 High Street Police Department
Santa Cruz, CA
95064

Telephone

(831) 459-2231

Website

http://police.ucsc.edu/index.html

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