Watsonville employee tases attempted car thief

An alert employee noticed a suspicious man climbing into the back of a pickup truck at a Watsonville business.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon near the 1900 block of W. Beach Road. The employee, armed with a taser confronted the man in the company parking lot, detained him and called 911.

The Sheriff’s Office said while deputies were on their way, the man threatened the employee.

“Scared for his safety the employee tased the man. Deputies arrived and placed Jeremy Mathis in handcuffs,” said the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

Mathis was booked into County Jail for attempted theft, criminal threats, resisting arrest and being under the influence of a controlled substance.