On July 9, Cyrus Hurtado was shot by two deputies from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department. Hurtado was 17 years old and now he is dead. The six-foot, 245-pound young man pointed a loaded rifle at the deputies. A short time earlier that evening, the young man had reportedly beaten his grandfather with a club and killed a kitten, said Lieutenant Kelly Kent of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputies were called to the family’s home because they felt endangered by Hurtado. “In 2013, the deputies had been called by the family because they had been threatened with a knife by Hurtado,” said Kent. He explained that the deputies had to put a “mental health hold” on Hurtado at that time.
A deputy who is called to a potentially violent scene will seek medical evaluation of an allegedly violent person’s mental condition. When a person exhibits signs that they may be in danger of hurting themselves or others, medical intervention is required. Kent said “in 2013, Hurtado was taken to Dominican Hospital for evaluation.” Kent explained that the duration of a mental health hold is a maximum of 72 hours.
In 2015 when the deputies were called, it was a different situation and they were met by a young man with a loaded rifle. The outcome is under investigation said Kent.
