Jose Sanchez (L) and Jessica Morrissey (R)
Police have put two suspects behind bars after an incident last Sunday that began over a stolen iPhone from Four Mile Beach earlier that day. Arrested were 33-year-old Jose Sanchez of Watsonville and 29-year-old Jessica Morrissey of Santa Cruz, both of whom had outstanding felony warrants for possession of controlled substances.
Last Sunday evening, Santa Cruz Police arrived at the laundromat on Mission Street after a report of stolen property. Once on scene, officers were flagged down by a man who said he’d been the victim of a robbery and was detaining the suspect.
He said he’d had his vehicle broken into while he was surfing at the beach; the suspect had apparently broken the window and stolen several items, including his iPhone.
By using the “Find My iPhone” app, he and his friend tracked it to a truck that was parked outside the laundromat — where he was able to see his iPhone in plain sight.
When they opened the truck, Sanchez came out and asked what they were doing. The victim said they were taking back his stolen property, at which point Sanchez became nervous and told them the truck actually belonged to someone else inside the laundromat.
He tried to flee by getting into the truck and driving away but broke the gear shifter in the process. The victim had also called police while all this was happening. Sanchez tried to run but was detained until officers arrived.
Sanchez was searched and in his possession were several credit cards and driver’s licenses from several other individuals. A gram of heroin and three grams of methamphetamine were also discovered.
Meanwhile, the person whom Sanchez had claimed the truck belonged to came out looking for him but couldn’t find him. When she asked the victim’s friend if he’d seen Sanchez, he relayed the chain of events, to which she responded by also trying to flee.
She was later apprehended down the road near Bellevue and Seaside.
The pair were both ultimately arrested for outstanding felony warrants for possession. Sanchez now has the added charges of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and possession of narcotic controlled substances.
