Suspect Was Tazed In Incident
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Police Department arrested 18-year-old Santa Cruz resident and known gang member Jose Xikonzochilt after an officer recognized him as a suspect in an attempt homicide case that occurred back in May.
On Thursday June 5, an Officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department pulled over a white 1993 Honda Accord. The driver attempted to give the officer a false name, but the officer recognized the driver a wanted suspect in an attempted homicide case.
The driver was identified as Jose Xilonzochilt, who is a wanted gang member by the Santa Cruz Police. When the officer attempted to place Xilonzochilt into custody a violent fight ensued.
During the fight, Xilonzochilt tried to grab the officer’s service weapon, but was quickly subdued by another officer who had responded as back up. Xilonzochilt was Tazed during the struggle and was taken into custody without further incident. The officer, a 12-year veteran of the Santa Cruz Police Department, was treated at the Hospital for his injuries.
After the arrest, a search of Xilonzochilt revealed that he had methamphetamine and heroin in his possession.
The Santa Cruz Police wanted Xilonzochiltin connection with a shooting that occurred on May 19 at the intersection of Third Street and Raymond Street. The shooting occurred over “territorial rights” between rival gangs in The Beach Flats neighborhood. Investigators had identified Xilonzochilt has the shooter in the incident that left a 20-year-old pregnant woman suffering from a non-life threatening injury from one of the rounds.
“Xilonzochilt is a known gang member to the Santa Cruz Police Department.” Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark wrote in a press release, “He is a gang member of the Beach Flats area and has a history of arrest for gang activity.”
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