Famed Black Panther leader Huey Newton was arrested in Santa Cruz County on May 11, 1978. He was charged with attempted murder after gun shots were fired during an argument at the Mediterranean Bar in Seacliff Beach. He was later acquitted on July 13, 1978 by Judge William Kelsay, who didn't believe there was enough evidence for Newton to stand trial on felony charges. At the time of his arrest and acquittal, Newton was a resident of Santa Cruz County, enrolled at UCSC as a doctoral candidate in the History of Consciousness program.

Source of information: Santa Cruz Sentinel