AN APPARENTLY GANG-RELATED CRIME IN WATSONVILLE LEFT ONE MAN IN THE HOSPITAL AND TWO MEN IN JAIL. 22 YEAR OLD JUAN CERVANTES WAS FOUND BY POLICE IN FRONT OF A 7-11 STORE ON EAST LAKE AVENUE WITH STAB WOUNDS AT THE BASE OF HIS NECK. HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER, AND IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION. POLICE OBTAINED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TWO SUSPECTS FROM WITNESSES. 21 YEAR OLDS MIGUEL ANGEL SANCHEZ AND HERMILO ALAMILLO WERE FOUND DURING AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE SURROUNDING AREA. BOTH WERE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND TRANSPORTED TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

THE SANTA CRUZ CITY PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONED VOTING ON A 100 MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL EXPANSION PROJECT LAST WEEK. THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS OF THE COAST SANTA CRUZ HOTEL ON WEST CLIFF DRIVE. THE COMMISSION, AFTER FACING A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROJECT, SCHEDULED DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING FOR ITS NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING ON DECEMBER 16TH.

A LOS ANGELES MAN IS BEING HELD AT THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES STEMMING FROM A STANDOFF WITH SANTA CRUZ POLICE LAST FRIDAY. THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN 35 YEAR OLD ALEJANDRO GUZMAN TOOK A LARGE BUTCHER KNIFE FROM THE DELI COUNTER OF NEW LEAF MARKET LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. HE THEN GRABBED A 7 YEAR OLD GIRL IN THE STORE. GUZMAN WAS SEPARATED FROM THE CHILD BY STORE CUSTOMERS. THE GIRL WAS UNHARMED. GUZMAN REFUSED TO SURRENDER AND BEGAN A NEARLY TWO HOUR STANDOFF. POLICE NEGOTIATED WITH GUZMAN AS HE STOOD ON PACIFIC AVENUE NEAR SOQUEL AVENUE. GUZMAN THREATENED SUICIDE AND TRIED TO PROVOKE OFFICERS INTO SHOOTING HIM. OFFICERS USED TASERS AND SPONGE ROUNDS TO TAKE GUZMAN INTO CUSTODY WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO WALK AWAY.

THE MEMBERS OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAS GIVEN THEIR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL, TO A PLAN TO BUY THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY (BETWEEN WATSONVILLE AND DAVENPORT). THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, YESTERDAY, TO PAY 19 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE 32-MILE LONG RAIL LINE. APPROVAL OF THIS PURCHASE IS CONTINGENT UPON FINDING AN OPERATOR TO CARRY FREIGHT ON THE LINE, AND THE FINANCING MUST STILL BE WORKED OUT.