Santa Cruz police recognize Good Samaritan who detained suspect

Santa Cruz police are recognizing a man who they say was willing to risk his safety to help others.

Last weekend, officers responded to the 300 block of Ocean Street for a report of an assault on a shop owner and his son. When they got there, they say the Good Samaritan was detaining the suspect, 25-year-old Jose Mendoza from San Jose.

The Samaritan, who wants to be anonymous, saw the suspect hitting the business owner and went to help. Police say he tackled the suspect to the ground and held him there until police arrived.

The Good Samaritan is recommended for a Chief’s Commendation and Challenge Coin.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Mills says, “This community hero took the rare action of inserting himself into a situation with inherent danger and risk to his safety to help someone in need.”

Police say Mendoza is a violent parolee who left his 5-year-old child in a car outside the shop during the assault. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment and damaging a communication device with intent to prevent help.