The Group Was Looking For A Party In Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz Police Department arrested four young adults after they caused a disturbance on the 1500 block of Laurent Street and assaulted a homeowner, who had taken pictures of them with her cell phone.
Arrested were 18-year-old Freedom resident Kyla Bell-Bernard, 18-year-old Soquel resident Cassie McCabe, 18-year-old Santa Cruz resident Riley Cameron and 19-year-old Santa Cruz resident Esabella Gentile-Montgomery.
Riley Cameron, the fourth one in the party.
On Saturday, August 2 around midnight, a group of young adults gathered on the street near the 1500 block of Laurent Street and began creating a disturbance. A concerned homeowner called the police and then went outside and took pictures of the group.
The group took exception to the homeowner’s actions and a physical altercation ensued. Members of the group assaulted her and took her cell phone, and at one point they tried smashing it. The victim was able to retrieve her cell phone and continued to take photos of them. The group left the area.
“The suspects hatched a plan to return to the area and take the victim’s cell phone out of fear that the photos would be used on social media.” Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark wrote in a press release, “ The suspects drove back and lured the victim to their vehicle to take her phone. We believe that the cell phone was discarded into the ocean”
The disturbance and assault happened at a home in this Santa Cruz neighborhood.
One suspect had reached for the victim’s cell phone and pulled it and the victim’s arm into the vehicle. The woman fell to the ground and the driver drove away, running over the victim’s hand. She suffered a compound fracture to her hand.
Detectives worked the case over the weekend and developed leads that led to the suspects. They determined that Bernard was the driver, although the car belonged to the family of Cassie McCabe. Montgomery and Cameron all had active roles in the conspiracy to return and take the cell phone.
All suspects were arrested on August 4 for robbery and conspiracy charges. Bell-Bernard also faces an extra charge of felony hit & run. The victim is recovering from her injuries.
