Peaceful protest for man killed by police in Santa Cruz

At least 100 people gathered Saturday at the town clock in Santa Cruz to honor the life of Sean Arlt who was killed in an officer involved shooting.

“There is something seriously wrong with a police department, especially Santa Cruz Police Department, when four trained armed police officers cannot subdue a man with a rake,” said Santa Cruz resident Pat Colby.

Community members and friends said the 32-year-old struggled with mental illness. He was shot by Santa Cruz Police Sunday after officers said he tried to attack them with a rake. His death has sparked conversations and sadness about mental health and police brutality.

“The message here today is that the police really need to, across the whole nation, but here in Santa Cruz particularly, need to have a whole way of handling their local citizens rather than resorting to deadly force,” said event organizer Keith McHenry.

Friends said Arlt was a loving father, advocate for social justice and an artist. A family friend told the audience that Arlt’s family is taking the loss pretty hard.

“But they’re incredibly loving people,” said Joel, a family friend. “They love this community and they want you to try to remember that.”

Community members said they are also concerned about the lack of transparency from the police department.

“They need to release the video, they need to release the audio,” said Sarah Leonard, Executive Director, M.H.C.A.N. “They need to release the names of the officers because this is not transparency at all.”

The Santa Cruz Police Department did not grant KION an interview. They released the following statement: “We will support their protected right to peacefully assemble.”