Male teenager detained after allegedly making death threat against Mayor Keeley, DA’s office investigating case

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JAN. 17, 2024 AT 1:27 PM- Santa Cruz Police confirmed that a male teenager has been detained after allegedly making a death threat to Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley.

This comes after Santa Cruz City Council voted 5-1 on a substitute motion on Jan. 9 calling for overall peace in the Middle East.

Keeley told KION that people who were against the resolution proceeded to charge the city council dais and throw signs and projectiles against him and his fellow city council members.

Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Jon Bush told KION that Mayor Keeley received a death threat via voicemail a few days after the city council meeting

Bush said that the voicemail contained a message of threat to kill and cause physical harm.

Bush said that they were able to trace the call back to Watsonville where the male teenager lives. Santa Cruz Police did detain him on Tuesday afternoon but he was later released to the custody of his parents.

Keeley also said that his fellow councilmembers have had their personal home addresses leaked by "people who did not get their way."

"It is outrageous for someone to kill any public official because the performance of their duties," Keeley said.

Keeley told KION that he doesn't regret how he handled the meeting on Jan. 9 because he wanted to hear every voice on the resolution.

"I am proud to have sat there for 10 hours without leaving my seat and hearing every single speaker," Keeley said. "What I regret is that it did not come back to the city council in the way we delivered it."

Erika Smart who is the City of Santa Cruz Communications Manager said that the case has been forwarded to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office.

"Following in-person interactions and the thorough examination of the case, our findings have been forwarded to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office for filing considerations. The case remains an active and ongoing investigation.   The Santa Cruz Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community. We take all threats seriously and will continue to work diligently to resolve this matter.

Erika Smart, City of Santa Cruz Communications Manager said in a statement

Keeley says that no matter if any criminal charges are filed by the District Attorney's Office, he said that he wants an apology from the teenager to the mayor's office.

"This is not about me," Keeley said. "This about the office I hold and I want to protect the next mayor and the mayor after that."

Keeley said he will not abandon his position because of threats of violence.

"I am mayor of this city and I am going to model good civic behavior and good civil discourse," Keeley said. "I will not be driven away from that by people who don't understand having your say or getting your way."

Santa Cruz Police said that they are also investigating a couple of minor assaults that were allegedly committed against a couple of officers and multiple windows being broken in City Hall.

Deputy Chief Bush said that they will be having more officers at the upcoming City Council meeting on Jan. 23

Santa Cruz City Council votes on substitute motion instead of cease-fire resolution

After a marathon meeting that extended after midnight, the Santa Cruz City Council voted on a substitute motion instead of a cease-fire resolution on Tuesday night.

If the resolution was approved, it would have called for a cease-fire resolution in the Israel-Hamas war.

Public comment on the topic started around 5 p.m. on Tuesday night and lasted into Wednesday morning.

The City Council voted on a substitute motion which says that the city acknowledges the history of conflict in the Middle East and wishing for peace.

The City Council also declared January as "City of Santa Cruz Peace Month," which community members could participate in dialogue that promotes peace around the world and locally.