Santa Cruz Immigration Protest Turns Violent

A 24-year-old man was arrested and police are seeking other suspects who are believed to have vandalized more than a dozen businesses in  Santa Cruz Saturday night during a march by apparent anarchists.
     
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.

The following video was posted on You Tube.


At least 15 businesses sustained damage from the vandalism. 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.

Some of the responding officers from the Watsonville Police Department, spotted 24-year-old Jimi Haynes, a transient from Fresno County,  who was 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.

After order was restored in the area, investigators worked overnight to collect evidence and document the extent of the damage to the  various businesses.

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.

Authorities are still working to identify and arrest additional people involved in the march and subsequent vandalism.

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.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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