Community Crime Bulletin -- battery causing great bodily injury, hate crime, mayhem, obstructing officers and drunk in public

At 12:38 a.m. on February 7, UC Santa Cruz Police arrested a male student and a male unaffiliated with campus on suspicion of battery, obstructing an officer, and drunk in public after officers responded to 911 calls of a reported fight at Kresge College. Both men were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. There were about 30 witnesses to the incident.

After dispersing the crowd, officers found four male victims with non-life threatening injuries.

Although the investigation is ongoing, follow up investigation and interviews revealed the fight broke out because one or more of the suspects perceived that one or more of the victims belonged to a protected classification, as listed in the California Hate Crime Statues. The student suspect and the victims were living in the same college community.

Protected classifications include, but are not limited to the following characteristics of the victim:
    •    Disability
    •    Gender
    •    Nationality
    •    Sexual orientation
    •    Race or ethnicity
    •    Religion
    •    Or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Anyone who may be a witness to this hate crime or has any information regarding these crimes is encouraged to call the UC Santa Cruz Police Department at 831-459-2231, ext.1.


Safety Tips
No action or inaction by a crime victim makes that person responsible for his or her victimization. Perpetrators are responsible for crimes and their effects.
    •    If you feel you or others are in danger, immediately call 911.
    •    Immediately report all crimes, suspicious people, activity or information to the UC Santa Cruz Police Department.
    •    Be alert to your surroundings. Your actions can help prevent others from becoming victims. Attempt to keep a safe distance from strangers.
    •    Whenever possible, please remember to lock you vehicle. Keep valuables secured and out of sight.
    •    Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, tell someone, avoid the person or leave the area.
    •    Encourage friends to travel in pairs or with trusted companions, especially at night or in remote areas.
    •    Use the Night Safety Escort Program, Monday through Thursday evening from 8:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. by calling 831-459-2231 ext. 1. More information can be found online.

Campus Resources
UC Santa Cruz is a community committed to being inclusive and welcoming of all people. We strive to provide a safe place for everyone to work and learn. The University Hate/Bias Response Team reviews all hate/bias incident reports to provide support and offer referral services. The community is encouraged to report all hate/bias crimes and incidents to the UC Santa Cruz Police Department or online at reporthate.ucsc.edu.

For students, a range of support services is also available through the Cowell Student Health Center, including personal counseling through Counseling and Psychological Services and support through a Confidential Victim Advocate. More information can be found online.

For student and employees, the Office of Harassment and Discrimination, Prevention and Investigation Unit can provide assistance and can be reached at 831-459-2462.

For employees, the Employee Assistance Program can provide personal counseling and support. More information can be found online.

Report all in-progress crimes by calling 911.

This bulletin is in compliance with 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f), the "Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act" ("Clery Act"), and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).