Shoplifter who hit Santa Cruz store employee with skateboard arrested
UPDATE: 5/2/2018 5:16 p.m. A shoplifter who hit a Santa Cruz store employee with a skateboard was arrested over the weekend.
A community member identified the suspect as 29-year-old Joshua Erwin of Santa Cruz.
On Sunday, April 22, Erwin went to Outdoor World on River Street where he stole several items. When a store employee asked him to put the items back Erwin struck the employee in the face with a skateboard.
The Santa Cruz Police Department found Erwin on the west river levee near Cathcart Street. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and theft for the incident at Outdoor World.
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A Santa Cruz store employee was hit with a skateboard after trying to stop a shoplifter.
The assault occurred at the Outdoor World on River Street, around 6:50 p.m. Sunday.
The suspect seen in the pictures below was wearing a black t-shirt and gray hat when he stole items from the store.
“When a store employee asked the suspect to return the items, the suspect threatened and then struck the employee in the face with a skateboard,” said SCPD spokesperson, Joyce Blaschke.
The Santa Cruz Police Department is actively investigating this case and asks anyone with information regarding this suspect to call SCPD at 831-420-5820.
