Top 10 weird crime stories from 2012
Santa Cruz likes to 'Keep it Weird' and the area has had some strange crime stories throughout the year. These are a few of the real winners.
No. 1 - Jail baby
Woman gives birth to baby girl in lobby of Santa Cruz County Jail early Monday morningSANTA CRUZ -- A 29-year-old Clearlake woman arrested last weekend gave birth to a baby in the lobby of the Santa Cruz County Jail early M...No. 2 - "Weekend at Bernie's"
Two arrested after allegedly trying to retrieve friend's body from Santa Cruz crematoriumClick photo to enlarge SANTA CRUZ - Any "Weekend at Bernie's" fantasies were shattered when a Redding man was interrupted while trying to...No. 3 - Grand-theft dog
- Great Dane worth $27,000 stolen near Scotts ValleyClick photo to enlarge SCOTTS VALLEY - A Great Dane valued at $27,000 was reported stolen from a recreational vehicle outside Scotts Vall...
No. 4 - Jury Room justice
Police: Drunken man packs loaded gun at bar, patrons take him downClick photo to enlarge SANTA CRUZ - A bar brawl left a 25-year-old man behind bars with a black eye after he fell off a bar stool leaving...No. 5 - Widow with a gun
Wanted gun-wielding widow Amanda Sloan shot in leg during arrest, Sheriff's Office saysClick photo to enlarge SOQUEL -- A wanted mother of three whose husband was gunned down in August was shot Sunday after firing at deputie...No. 6 - Gun grab
- Employee of Santa Cruz business thwarts armed robber by grabbing his gun, police saySANTA CRUZ - A man with a shotgun walked into a business on California Avenue on Saturday night and demanded money, but an employee stymi...
No. 7 - Dressed to kill
- Woman arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon (her shoes)SANTA CRUZ - Police arrested a woman Tuesday after she kicked a security guard who was wrestling with a suspected shoplifter. Just before...
No. 8 - Dine and dash
- Surfboard stolen off the wall of Santa Cruz DinerSANTA CRUZ -- Someone stole a surfboard from a wall of Santa Cruz Diner early Saturday morning, police reported. About 4:30 a.m., a man t...
No. 9 - Musician madness
- Guitarist punches robber, retrieves his guitar at Santa Cruz beachSANTA CRUZ - A 41-year-old man was hospitalized Friday after he pulled a knife on a man 10 years his senior and stole his guitar, prompti...
No. 10 - Burglar bungle
- Man home ill nabs burglar, gets his property backPosted: 03/12/2012 04:02:59 PM PDT LIVE OAK - A man home ill from work discovered a burglar rummaging through his belongings inside his C...
Honorable Mention - Stealing dog poop
- This one happened late in 2011, but it kept us laughing well into 2012.
- Santa Cruz woman thwarts mugger, hands him bag of dog poopA would-be mugger made off with something more malodorous than money Thursday morning, police said. An unknown man approached a 62-year-o...
