Suspect Also Attempted To Pull Rider From Motorcycle
SANTA CRUZ—An officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department sustained an injury while attempting to arrest a suspect who was acting strangely in the downtown area of Santa Cruz. 33-year-old transient Robert Craig was arrested on a charge of obstruction.
Robert Craig booking photo.
On Wednesday January 7, an officer was on patrol in the area of Pacific Avenue and Center Street when he noticed that Craig was in the roundabout trying to pull a motorcyclist off his motorcycle. The intersection is just a couple blocks from the Santa Cruz Wharf, and near the Boardwalk amusement park.
When the officer attempted to contact Craig he became confrontational and extremely uncooperative. Craig attacked and tried to gouge the officer’s eye out. The officer fought back and was able to call for backup, and deployed his Taser. Unfortunately the Taser did not work on Craig and he was able to flee.
Additional officers responded and found Craig a few blocks away on Beach Street. Craig continued to be confrontational and uncooperative toward the other officers. They deployed an additional Taser, this one was effective and Craig was taken into custody without further incident.
Criag fled closer to the beach and the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Craig was arrested on a charges of felony battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, mayhem and possession of drugs. His bail is set at 20,000.00 dollars. Though the Santa Cruz PD report listed Craig as 33 and a transient, his county booking report showed him at 45 years old, and residing at an apartment on Center Street in Soquel (different from the Center Street in the Santa Cruz roundabout.)
The officer sustained significant injuries to his eye, and was treated and released from the Dominican Hospital. He will need to meet with and eye specialist to determine the extent of the damage.
