Local prosecutor Charlie Baum said he dropped charges against Pedro Escobar, 22, German Escobar, 23, and Jose Callejas-Alfaro, 29, all of Santa Cruz in court Thursday morning because last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a complaint against the trio.

“It is a good thing from our perspective,” said Baum, who explained the men will face longer prison sentences if convicted at the federal level.

The federal complaint charges all three men with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

Santa Cruz police arrested the Escobars and Callejas-Alfaro in April after officers got a tip the men planned to sell more than three pounds of methamphetamine and conducted a month-long investigation that led the to interception of the drug deal.

Investigators have said that the three men are high-ranking Salvadoran gang members suspected of supplying methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin to drug dealers. Police also seized a stolen, loaded handgun during the bust.

Frances Rinaldo was deployed to the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara. Ray and Joy LeClair were sent to the Kentucky flooding.

Santa Cruz County Red Cross mental health volunteers are all mental health professionals who volunteer their time to help those who have been through the trauma of a disaster, whether it is a single home fire or a massive disaster affecting thousands. All services provided by the Red Cross during a disaster relief operation are free of charge.

Monday, the local Red Cross chapter announced that four other disaster relief volunteers from the county had gone to Santa Barbara to help fire victims. Their tasks involved providing food, water and shelter to fire victims.

The local Red Cross chapter is looking for registered nurses and mental health workers to join their disaster relief efforts after taking part in a short training. Call Patsy Hernandez at 462-2881 ext. 16 for information.

Nicholas Nelson, 24, of Felton matched the description of one of the fighters so deputies detained him. When they checked to see if he had any outstanding warrants, the deputies learned Nelson was on probation for past drug violations and that, as part of his probation, could be searched by law enforcement officers, accordng to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found $5,500 cash and about a pound of marijuana in Nelson’s backpack, as well as a scale and packaging materials, Lansdowne said.

Nelson was booked into County Jail on suspicion of possessing marijuana, possessing marijuana for sale and a probation violation, according to jail records. He remained there Wednesday afternoon.

The other person involved in the reported fight was not located. Lansdowne said he didn’t know what the two men were arguing about.

“Unfortunately the other guy got away from the fight,” Lansdowne said.

The decision was made in court Wednesday. David Alford, 53, has yet to enter a plea. He is accused of shooting Han Hugo Heath, 58.

The two men had met in the street near Alford’s home, struck up a conversation and went back to Alford’s place to have a drink, according to the Sheriff’s Office. However, later that day something allegedly triggered Alford to get Health into Alford’s car. Alford allegedly shot Heath, then drove his body to Big Sur and left it down an embankment off Highway 1 near Point Sur.
Alford will be back in court June 1.

The team was deployed to the wildland blaze Tuesday night and arrived in Santa Barbara around 4 a.m. Wednesday. The firefighters’ first assignment was structure protection. Friday, they were assigned to the fireline and nothing was getting better, according to Santa Cruz Fire Battalion Chief John Lucchesi

The strike team leader is Jim Diaz from Aptos/La Selva Fire. He is heading the crew of firefighters and engines from Branciforte, Scotts Valley, Central, Aptos/La Selva and Zayante fire districts.

Lucchesi said no other local firefighters have been called to battle the wildfire, but said the county is prepared to send more resources to Santa Barbara if necessary.

The deputy spotted the car parked under a “No Parking” sign on Oceanview Drive around 10:50 p.m. and went to speak with the people inside. He found five teenagers — three male and two female, ages 15-19 — in the car and smelled marijuana, according to Sgt. Greg Lansdowne. The teens handed over a pipe, then the deputy searched the car for additional evidence of drug use.

Instead, the deputy found a loaded 9mm handgun tucked into a pocket in front of the backseat on the passenger side of the car. The 16-year-old Watsonville boy who had been sitting there was arrested on suspicion of possessing a concealed weapon, according to the Sheriff’s Office. His name was not released because of his age.

Lansdowne said there was no apparent gang connection.

The blaze on College Road near Blossom Drive ignited just after 1 p.m. It burned within about 50 feet of a house before fire crews knocked down the flames.