Public intoxication main issue at Downtown Santa Cruz Halloween

Halloween is a special time in Downtown Santa Cruz, bringing full-sized crowds every year.

“I think it’s really cool, everyone looks so cool and it seems really fun,” said Ally Mobley, a Santa Cruz resident.

But it is not just trick-or-treaters out for candy. Police officers have to watch for people who might be having a little too much fun celebrating.

“Yeah later in the evening the alcohol starts to kick in and people behave differently,” said Lt. Bernie Escalante, with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

There are about a hundred law enforcement officers from different departments, from UCSC police to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Most of the arrests police make are for public intoxication. But there are triple fines for your basic street party municipal code violations.

“Like open alcohol containers, urinating in public, vandalism, those sort of offenses come with a heavier fine,” said Lt. Escalante.

There has been at least one arrest Thursday night for public intoxication. But security here also includes police command posts and blocked routes into Pacific Avenue to prevent any mass casualty incident.

Most try to just stay with their friends for safety.

“Well, I have pepper spray with me and I try to stay where it’s populated,” said Mobley.

Last year, Santa Cruz Police made at least ten or more arrests for public intoxication. But Lt. Escalante says that number has been going down in recent years.