Dozens arr­ested in wild Santa Cruz Halloween

Santa Cruz police today said they handled a wild crowd of more than 15,000 people in the downtown area on Halloween and more than 400 calls for service during a 24-hour period.

Police made 32 arrests in the downtown area alone on Halloween during the period between 8 a.m. Oct. 31 and 8 a.m. Saturday including that of a man who allegedly assaulted a woman dressed up as a Fox News reporter, according to police.

Sean Kory, a 29-year-old Santa Cruz resident, allegedly attacked the victim dressed up as a reporter, saying he hated Fox News.

He allegedly shoved the victim’s microphone down his pants and rubbed it on his crotch, then attacked the victim with an aluminum tennis racquet. The victim was not injured in the incident and officers were able to track down and arrest Kory in the crowd.

Police also arrested 19 people on suspicion of public intoxication and issued 45 citations, 36 of them for open containers of alcohol. One person dressed up as “Edward Scissorhands” was also cited after he was seen trimming city trees.

Police also arrested three alleged Norteno gang members from Watsonville on weapons charges after they were found with guns in the parking structure at Cedar and Church streets.

Arrested were Maria Lopez-Enisco, 21, Lucio Martinez, 19, and Bryan Ponciano, 20. One 12-year-old Watsonville boy with gang tattoos was also arrested on weapons and probation violation charges after he was found carrying a homemade hammer weapon in his pants.

The boy told officers he was fearful of attacks by rival gang members, police said. Outside of the downtown area, police made arrests in two DUI cases and in a prowling case.

Rafael Cardenas, a 22-year-old Santa Cruz resident, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a solo vehicle crash into a light pole at Mission and Miramar streets. Cardenas allegedly attempted to flee the scene, first in his disabled vehicle and then on foot, and then fought with both officers.

Both officers were injured and one remains off duty awaiting further medical evaluation, police said. Miles Chong, a 21-year-old Livermore resident, was arrested at Bay and High streets after another solo vehicle collision with the center median and a signal light pole.

Chong allegedly began throwing punches when medical personnel arrived, but police were able to subdue him. Scotts Valley resident Greg Vandervoort was arrested on a public intoxication charge after he was spotted and reported as a prowler in two back yards in the 500 block of King Street.

Vandervoort, 48, was apparently trying to find his way back to his home in Scotts Valley and thought he was in his neighborhood, according to police.

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