Family helps Santa Cruz police capture burglary suspect
A 33-year-old transient man was arrested Saturday April 19, after he tried to flee from authorities with items stolen from Safeway on Morrissey Boulevard.
About 5:30 p.m., James Wentworth was inside the grocery store at 117 Morrissey Blvd. when a store security guard accused him of theft and a struggle began, according to the Santa Cruz police blog.
A family of three in the store spotted the struggle. When Wentworth fled out of the store to Pacheco Avenue, the family chased him, police said.
Wentworth threw a punch at one of them, but they knocked him down and held him there before police arrived, authorities said. Police thanked the trio for their help.
Wentworth was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to arrest records.
Police said Wentworth recently arrived in Santa Cruz and has been arrested more than once. He remained in Santa Cruz County Jail on Monday in lieu of $5,000 bail, according to jail records.