City of Santa Cruz shares concerns over Hanford Police allegedly transporting homeless to Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The City of Santa Cruz held a press conference voicing concerns about Hanford Police allegedly transporting a homeless individual to Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz leaders said the individual was dropped off in the parking lot of a city-run shelter without any care plan or prior contact with the city.

The city calls the move "irresponsible" and is now working on an ordinance to make it illegal for this type of transport to take place in the City of Santa Cruz.

Hanford Police responded to the accusations in a statement to KION after the press conference.

The agency said the individual refused homeless resources from Hanford Police and requested to be transported to multiple locations that weren't feasible, including Hawaii.

Eventually Hanford Police said the individual requested to be relocated to Santa Cruz and requested officers' assistance in relocating to a facility in Santa Cruz.

"During the drive, the individual made contact with two Santa Cruz homeless organizations, one of which referred her to the Armory, where officers ultimately dropped her off," said the statement from the City of Hanford.

The city said its Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston explained the series of events to Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante and disagrees with the city's assessment that Hanford is moving its homeless problem "elsewhere."

Hanford city officials tell KION this was a "unique situation" and "not normal practice" for Hanford Police to transport a homeless individual anywhere.

In a staff report, Santa Cruz staff said "whether or not Person Doe [the homeless individual] requested to come to Santa Cruz is irrelevant."

The city claims the person didn't ask to come to Santa Cruz and has no ties to the area.

"It is flagrantly inappropriate that the Hanford Police Department transported a homeless individual to the City of Santa Cruz without a confirmed safety plan or support system," the report said.

Santa Cruz said its police department "has no history of improper transportation and drop-off of homeless persons.

“If an officer, employee or agent of a government agency, is acting on transporting and dropping off an individual on public or private property when that person lacks a fixed regular in adequate nighttime residence it would make the act of doing so a misdemeanor," Anthony P. Condotti, City Attorney said.

The city says it was irresponsible for Hanford police to drop off the individual without a proper care plan.

"This is a violation of people's human race taken against their will and moves," Justin Cummings third District Supervisor said. "If they don’t have any relatives or contacts or if they will be safe or not.”

Meanwhile Santa Cruz leaders are urging more communication as they push for this homeless transport ordinance.

"Let's communicate with who's going to be receiving you on the other end is it your family, your friends, social service agency, a church, the county government, whoever it might be and if there is an agreement about that between the two entities, then here's the bus ticket and you're now homeward bound," Mayor Fred Keeley said.

The ordinance in question is set to be discussed on Tuesday.

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