Santa Cruz

Suspected crack dealer busted

A Santa Cruz woman suspected of dealing crack cocaine from her Broadway home was arrested Thursday morning when the county Narcotics Enforcement Team raided her house, Cmdr. Rich Westphal reported.

Donna Suerte, 39, allegedly had 30 bindles -- about 70 grams -- of crack, packaging materials and a digital scale at her house, according to Westphal. The drugs are worth about $3,500, authorities said.

Police served a search warrant at her house, which is on the 200 block of Broadway, around 7 a.m.

Two friends visiting the home were contacted but not arrested, according to Westphal. Suerte is being held in County Jail on suspicion of possessing cocaine base for sale. Bail was set at $35,000.

Santa Cruz

Soquel drive-by suspects in court

The two teens accused of shooting a Soquel High basketball star in a gang-related drive-by last week pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Daniel Cross, 17, was struck twice in the leg. He is expected to recover.

Ocegueda was in court Wednesday to be arraigned; Elisondo appeared on Thursday. After they entered pleas of not guilty, the cases were put over until April 2.

WATSONVILLE

Police warn of fake $100 bills

Police are cautioning the public to take care when accepting $100 bills after several counterfeits turned up in recent weeks.

Most recently, a man fled Wednesday after trying to use a fake bill to purchase items at a store on the 900 block of East Lake Avenue. In all, police said they have received four reports of phony bills in the past month, with descriptions of suspects and counterfeits differing in each case.

Police recommend comparing bills to one known to be genuine, using counterfeit detection pens and examining bills for features such as security threads, color-shifting ink and watermarks. Holding bills up to the light can make spotting threads and watermarks easier. Security details on bills vary on denomination and year of printing.

Police also suggest considering the value of purchases in relation the bill being used for payment.

Felton

Student hit as he runs across highway

A 13-year-old San Lorenzo Valley Middle School student was hit by a car when he ran across Highway 9 on Wednesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The boy ran through a crosswalk against a red "Don't Walk" sign and was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta around 2:30 p.m., according to CHP officer Scott Zilge. The boy was leaving school to catch a Metro bus when he was hit, Zilge said.

The boy was flown to a San Jose-area trauma center to be treated, but his injuries, a broken leg and head lacerations, were not life-threatening, according to Zilge.

A preliminary investigation of the crash indicates the boy was at fault, according to the CHP.

WATSONVILLE

Woman beaten in home burglary

Two young women are the suspects in the beating of a woman Wednesday at her home on the 100 block of Lincoln Street, according to police.

The suspects, ages 21 and 17, entered the house, kicked the woman and punched her in the face, police said. At one point, the older woman hit the victim in the face with a bottle. The pair then fled, taking the woman's cell phone.

Police do not believe the attack was random.