Police: man who called in fake shooting was high, had seizure

Santa Cruz police say an all-out response to reports of an armed gunman walking around a neighborhood were spurred by a false report of a shooting by a man who was suspected of being under the influence of narcotics.

Just after 2:00 p.m. Thursday, officers were called to an apartment on Errett Cir. for reports that a domestic argument ended with a man shooting a woman then walking out onto the street.

When officers arrived, they identified the man who made the call as 24-year-old Kyle Lee Allala. He suffered a seizure as officers tried collecting further information to assist in the manhunt. He was transported to Dominican Hospital for treatment.

As all of that happened officers, along with SWAT, locked down a school at Garfield Park Church and sent a reverse 911 call advising area residents to shelter in place. A county aircraft helped secure the perimeter as officers searched for the alleged gunman, who they still thought was on the loose.

Officers eventually located the 44-year-old man reported to be the gunman. As he was interviewed, it became increasingly clear that no shooting had ever happened, as reported. Investigators also contacted the 33-year-old woman who was reportedly shot and feared dead. She was alive and well, and not at the apartment.

Teams conducted a final sweep to make sure there were no other victims or threats. After clearing everything, they opened roads, the school and let residents know they were safe to leave their homes.

As investigators followed up with Allala, they learned he was under the influence of narcotics. He was arrested and charged with numerous drug crimes and for making a false report of a crime. Santa Cruz police say he was also arrested in 2012 but didn’t go into detail.