Deputies arrest Watsonville man they say broke into home, tried to assault woman

A 34-year-old Watsonville man is accused of entering his former neighbor’s home without permission and exposing himself to her, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies said.

Eric Miller is accused of going into the home on the 2300 block of Byer Road in Santa Cruz just before 1 p.m. Thursday. After he exposed himself, the woman yelled for help and ran out of the house, but Miller grabbed her and pinned her to the ground, deputy Ryan Kennedy said.

She eventually was able to struggle free and fled to a neighbor’s home to call for help. Santa Cruz police found Miller soon afterward on Soquel Avenue in regards to an unrelated incident.

Miller was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of burglary with intent to commit rape, and false imprisonment.