A WATSONVILLE MAN AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HAVE BEEN CONVICTED ON MISDEMEANOR CHARGES OF ELDER ABUSE. FOLLOWING A TWO WEEK TRIAL THE JURY HAS FOUND GEORGE TAYLOR AND KATHLEEN PARK NOT GUILTY OF FELONY CHARGES. REPORTEDLY THE DEFENDANTS FATHER WAS SLAPPED AROUND, PUNCHED AND CALLED PROFANE NAMES. GEORGE TAYLOR SENIOR PASSED AWAY 13 DAYS AFTER HIS TESTIMONY DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES. GEORGE TAYLOR JUNIOR IS A LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST IN THE MONTEREY COUNTY AREA, AND SENTENCING IS ET FOR NOVEMBER 27^th.

TALENTED SURFERS FROM THE WORLD ROUND HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED IN SANTA CRUZ FOR THE O’NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC. PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR THIS YEAR, THE COLDWATER CLASSIC IS FREE TO ATTEND AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SPANNING WEST CLIFF DRIVE IN SANTA CRUZ. TUESDAY SURFERS WERE OUT IN STEAMER LANE PRACTICING, INCLUDING DEFENDING 2011 CHAMPION MIGUEL PUPO. THE COMPETITION IS SLATED TO BE HELD WHEN SWELLS AT STEAMER LANE ARE BIG ENOUGH, RUNNING FROM NOVEMBER 1^st THROUGH THE 11^th.

THE SEASIDE POLICE ISSUED A WARNING YESTERDAY THROUGH THE MONTEREY COUNTY 911 ALERT SYSTEM. THE WARNING STEMS FROM THE RECENT SPIKE IN VIOLENCE AND SHOOTINGS IN SEASIDE AND URGES THE PUBLIC TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A POSSIBLE GANG RETALIATION TONIGHT. SEASIDE POLICE HAVE HAD TROUBLE TRACKING GANG ACTIVITY IN THE PAST BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL WEAR HALLOWEEN MASKS TO HIDE FROM POLICE. IT IS ADVISED TO SET A CURFEW FOR KIDS AS WELL AS MAKE SURE THEY CAN BE REACHED IN AN EMERGENCY. POSSIBLE DANGERS ASIDE, REMEMBER TO ENJOY YOUR HALLOWEEN!

POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE MONTEREY BAY HAVE POOLED RESOURCES AND MADE SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS. THE EFFORT IS A RESULT OF THE RECENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN SEASIDE AND THREATS OF A “HALLOWEEN RETALIATION.” THE MONTEREY COUNTY GANG TASK FORCE INITIATED A TRAFFIC STOP ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 27th AND ARRESTED THREE IDENTIFIED GANG MEMBERS. ON SUNDAY THE 28th ANOTHER TRAFFIC STOP WAS INITIATED AND ANOTHER THREE KNOWN GANG MEMBERS WERE ARRESTED. ORIGINALLY ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 25^th TWO KNOWN GANG MEMBERS WERE ARRESTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THE COMMUNITY BE VIGILANT, AND REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE POLICE.