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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Santa Cruz Police arrested a man for stealing a large floral bouquet from a memorial honoring two slain officers, then left the area in a taxi.
They arrested Kenneth Maffei after they received a call that he was stealing from the memorial at the intersection of Doyle Street and North Branciforte. The witness followed the taxi toward River Street.
Officers said it happened on Friday, the first day they were back on patrol after Sgt. Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler were shot and killed in the line of duty.
Responding officers found the taxi traveling northbound on River Street and conducted a traffic stop near Potrero Street. They said Maffei claimed he purchased the flowers, but couldn't provide proof of the purchase.
The flowers were returned to the memorial site.
Maffei was booked for vandalism to a law enforcement memorial and public intoxication.
