Watsonville Patrol Officers Arrest Three Suspects and Recover Stolen Vehicle and Loaded Firearms
WATSONVILLE, CA — During a recent weekend, patrol officers conducted operations that resulted in three arrests, the recovery of two loaded firearms, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Early Sunday morning, officers responded to a call for service located in the 500 block of East Lake Avenue. This response led to contact with 40-year-old convicted felon Juan Manuel Palacios. Upon interaction, officers discovered a loaded firearm and narcotics in his possession. Palacios was subsequently arrested on multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance and carrying a concealed firearm.
In a separate incident on Friday, officers executed a traffic stop involving a white BMW in the 400 block of Center Street. The driver, identified as 28-year-old Luis Zamora, was determined to be driving with a suspended license connected to a prior DUI conviction. A search revealed a loaded gun inside the vehicle. Zamora was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on firearm-related charges.
Additionally, on Thursday evening, officers utilized technology to recover a stolen vehicle following an alert from a Flock Safety Camera. Officers located the vehicle within five minutes of the alert. When law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver, identified as 63-year-old Michael Scott, fled from the officers. This initiated a brief pursuit that concluded in a parking lot situated in the 300 block of South Green Valley Road. During the attempt to evade officers, the driver collided with a patrol vehicle and a shopping cart enclosure. Scott was arrested and faces charges that include possession of a stolen vehicle, evading a peace officer, driving on a suspended license, and violation of parole.
