News Briefs

SVPD arrests man after Tabor Drive break-in
At approximately 1:53 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, residents of a home on Tabor Drive in Scotts Valley were woken up by the sounds of footsteps on their roof.
The resident got out of bed and investigated. The resident found his front door ajar and upon further investigation, located a male subject hiding in a closet in a bedroom.
As the subject fled the residence, he was struck with a baseball bat in the chest by the owner.
The owner was able to identify the subject as 21-year-old Josue Jashua Cano Velez of Santa Cruz, and provide a vehicle description.
Scotts Valley Police Department officers responded to the subject’s residence and found him inside. He was subsequently arrested and booked into county jail.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter expands hours of operation
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter recently announced new hours of operation at its Santa Cruz location, at 2200 7th Avenue.
The new hours are as follows:
– Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
According to a press release, the new hours allow the shelter to be open seven days a week and an additional 19 hours per week open to the public.
The shelter is now open in the mornings and remains open later in the evenings on weekdays to accommodate the public after working hours.
For more information, visit www.scanimalshelter.org or call 454-7200.
Jeff Gaffney appointed as county parks director
Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Susan A. Mauriello recently announced the appointment of Jeff Gaffney as the new Director of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services for the County of Santa Cruz.
Gaffney has worked in the field of Parks and Recreation for 21 years and currently works for the California Department of Parks as the District Superintendent for the Hollister Hills and Hungry Valley Districts. He will assume his new position on Jan. 26.
Gaffney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University in Social Science.
He has worked for the State of California since 2003, starting as a State Ranger and advancing through the organization until 2006, when he was appointed as a District Superintendent.