By Khalida Sarwari and Dan McMenamin
Two people were arrested over the weekend and others are being sought in connection with a riot and march in downtown Santa Cruz that police are calling a coordinated attack against the city.
At about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to reports of a large group of people walking along Pacific Avenue and causing damage to businesses along the street.
Many people in the group were carrying makeshift torches, and some broke storefront windows and wrote anarchist graffiti on buildings, police said.
Kimi Hanson, a manager at El Palomar Restaurant at 1336 Pacific Ave., said today she was working at the restaurant that night when she noticed a large crowd of people walking past the restaurant. She said most of them were young and were wearing masquerade-style masks, but did not appear violent.
However, around 10:30 p.m., Hanson said the crowd became more violent after some people threw something that appeared to be a liquid at a police vehicle. Upon arrival, people began surrounding the car and jumping on the hood, pelting the sides with rocks and pouring paint on the car, according to police.
El Palomar was not damaged in the riot, but at least 15 businesses in downtown Santa Cruz sustained varying degrees of damage. Many businesses had multiple windows broken, including large storefront windows, according to police.
Santa Cruz police called for aid from all other law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County, including the California Highway Patrol. Officer Sarah Jackson said several vehicles responded at about 11:20 p.m. to assist. She said the crowd was brought under control by about 12:30 a.m., but that two patrol cars remained in the area until about 1:30 a.m.
Authorities guarded exposed storefronts and arranged for private security companies to watch the businesses until windows could be boarded and employees from the businesses could be contacted, according to police.
The University of California Police Department arrested a 41-year-old transient identified as Thomas Williams after he was found covered in the paint used in the vandalisms, according to police. Thomas was arrested for public intoxication and resisting arrest. Police are working to
determine whether Williams was directly involved in the vandalisms.
Another transient, 24-year-old Jimi Haynes of Fresno County, was also arrested. Watsonville police officers spotted Haynes allegedly breaking windows at Dell Williams Jewelers, a store at 1320 Pacific Ave., police said.
Haynes was arrested shortly afterward, and discovered to be on parole out of Fresno County for burglary. He admitted to participating in the rally after receiving a flyer at a nearby cafe frequented by anarchists, according to police.
Haynes was booked into Santa Cruz County jail on suspicion of felony vandalism and parole violation, police said.
Police investigators believe a May Day event was used as a political and physical cover for an anarchist group and are working with the FBI to identify and arrest additional people involved in the march and subsequent vandalism.
Two diversionary calls were placed during the riot, both for shots fired including one with a man down, but neither call turned out to be real, police said.
Santa Cruz police are encouraging anyone with information about the march, including photos or video footage, to contact police. Anonymous callers can use the Police Department’s tip line at (831) 420-5847.