2 SALINAS WITNESSES HELPED GRATEFUL POLICE OFFICERS MAKE AN ARREST TODAY. JUST AFTER 9 A.M. A MAN ROBBED THE MOTEL 6 ON DE LA TORRE BOULEVARD, WITH A SIMULATED WEAPON UNDER HIS SHIRT. HE DEMANDED MONEY AND RAN OFF. 15 MINUTES LATER THE SAME MAN ENTERED THE 7-ELEVEN ON ABBOTT STREET AND DID IT AGAIN. A WITNESS FOLLOWED HIM (AFTER HE RAN OUT), AND GAVE DETAILS TO AUTHORITIES ON HIS CELL PHONE. THE ROBBER ABANDONED HIS CAR IN GREENFIELD ALLEY, AND FLED. OFFICERS CONDUCTED AN AREA CHECK , AND ANOTHER WITNESS POINTED OUT THE SUSPECTS HIDING PLACE. 29-YEAR-OLD SEBASTIAN SANCHEZ WAS ARRESTED AFTER BEING SUBDUED BY 2 SHOTS OF A TASER GUN. WHEN SANCHEZ BEGAN TREMBLING AND ACTING STRANGELY, HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, WHERE HE REMAINS UNDER OBSERVATION. HE IS AN ACTIVE PAROLEE, AND WILL ALSO BE CHARGED WITH VIOLATION OF PAROLE.

LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE AVIAN BIRD VIRUS AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. THE FLU IS NOW KILLING PEOPLE IN ASIA. MARCI ABRAMS, MANAGER OF THE ALL HAZARDS PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY (KNOWN AS ALPHA) TOLD THE MEMBERS THAT THE FLU IS KILLING MOSTLY BIRDS, BUT WAS CONTRACTED BY 80 HUMANS IN ASIA, AND 53 OF THOSE HAVE DIED. SHE SAID AVIAN BIRD FLU HAS NOT BEEN TRANSMITTED FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN ON A SUSTAINED BASIS YET. EXPERTS SAY WE ARE OVERDUE FOR A PANDEMIC FLU WHICH ON AVERAGE OCCURS EVERY 12 TO 15 YEARS. THE AVIAN FLU A ?TYPE A FLU?, HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING THE NEXT PANDEMIC HUMAN FLU. BY RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN TAKE STEPS NOW TO MAKE SURE OUR RESPONSE CAPACITY IS ROBUST.

THE DRIVER OF A TRUCK THAT CAUSED ONE OF THE WORST TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN SANTA CRUZ WAS SENTENCED ON FRIDAY. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN JULY OF 2003 AT THE ?FISHHOOK? ON HIGHWAY 17. RANDY LEE LITTLE WAS DRIVING A LOADED TRACTOR TRAILER WHEN HIS BRAKES FAILED. 19 COLLISIONS OCCURRED, SEVERAL INJURIES AND AN 8 MONTH OLD GIRL WAS KILLED. LITTLE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR DRUGS AND HAS REPORTEDLY COOPERATED WITH POLICE AND INVESTIGATORS. HE WAS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN COUNTY JAIL AND THREE YEARS PROBATION. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, HE HAS STOPPED DRIVING TRUCKS AND HAS WORKED AS A FORKLIFT OPERATOR.

STUDENTS AT U.C.S.C. WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CONTROVERSIAL TENT UNIVERSITY WILL NOT FACE CHARGES IN COURT. THE SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT ATTORNEY?S OFFICE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY NO CHARGES WILL BE FILED AGAINST 19 STUDENTS ARRESTED. THE CAMPUS?S POLICE CHIEF AND THE CHANCELLOR?S OFFICE ASKED THAT NO CHARGES BE FILED. THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID THAT THE CAMPUS WILL SEEK OTHER SANCTIONS, WHICH RANGE FROM A LETTER OF REPRIMAND TO SUSPENSION TO EXPULSION. STUDENTS HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OF FACULTY MEMBERS, U.C.S.C STAFF AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE PROTEST, DURING WHICH RIOT POLICE ARRESTED STUDENTS USING ?PAIN COMPLIANCE? TECHNIQUES. STUDENTS ARE STILL SEEKING A RESPONSE FROM THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION.