Man arrested for possession of meth in Santa Cruz

Published April 17, 2025 12:54 PM

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A Santa Cruz man was arrested for possessing methamphetamine near Coral Street on Wednesday.

According to Santa Cruz Police, an officer had found Shad Stephens trespassing on the railroad track near the street. After searching Stephens, they found a significant amount of meth along with cash and a pipe.

Meth, cash, and more found when searching Shad Stephens who was arrested for drug possession. Courtesy: Santa Cruz Police Department

Police determined that the meth was intended for sale. Stephens was on probation for possesessing meth for sales at the time of his arrest.

Stephens was arrested on multiple charges, including two felony warrants and violating his probation.

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Sergio Berrueta

Sergio Berrueta has been in the news for quite awhile going from studying print media to entering the realm of broadcast.

Originally from Bell Gardens, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. Berrueta started his professional news career in Eureka as a newscast producer for North Coast News (now The Northstate’s News) at KAEF ABC 23 in 2022. He pivoted a year later in 2022 going from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera as a multimedia journalist for Redwood News Channel 3 (KIEM/KVIQ) also in Eureka.

Berrueta studied journalism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Berrueta was a staff writer, page editor, social media manager and editor-in-chief of the university’s El Lenador, the only bilingual publication in all of Humboldt County.

Before moving to the North Coast, Berrueta had earned his Associate’s Degree at East Los Angeles College in 2019 after beginning his educational journey in 2012. He also was on staff for the ELAC’s publication, ELAC Campus News, having been a staff writer, page editor, and online editor.

Outside of news experience, Berrueta has also been in education as an AmeriCorps tutor in East Hollywood from 2017 to 2019 and served in a government role as a National Hometown Fellow for Lead for America with the City of Arcata in 2021.

When not focusing on news, Berrueta is an avid amateur cinephile having written about films in free time. He also writes poetry, attempting to get through a backlog of video games, enjoys visiting new places along the California Coast, and trying to keep up with the latest music and podcasts.