SANTA CRUZ—A woman who stole a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office cruiser and then struck a deputy in an attempt to escape arrest three years ago was sentenced Friday to 16 years in state prison.
Jessica May Lowe, 30, has been held without bail in Santa Cruz County Jail since her arrest in 2018. She was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, escaping from custody and vehicle theft.
She was convicted on multiple felony counts, according to the Santa Cruz County’s District Attorney’s Office.
Lowe was arrested on May 18, 2018, in a remote area of Ocean Street Extension in Santa Cruz after deputies discovered that a vehicle in her possession was stolen.
As a deputy conducted a search, his partner questioned her male companion, who was seated in the back of a second patrol SUV.
Lowe, who was seated in another patrol SUV, slipped out of her handcuffs and then reached through the open window and opened the door. She then got into another patrol SUV and deliberately drove into the deputy who was questioning her companion.
The deputy conducting the search tried to stop the assault by firing his weapon. Lowe then reportedly backed up toward that deputy, who fired his weapon several more times. As the deputy tried to assist his injured partner, Lowe once again drove toward the deputies, despite having been shot. The deputy fired his weapon one last time, and Lowe finally stopped the car.
“This case is an example of the dangers our law enforcement officers face while on duty,” said Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell. “I am proud of the response from the multiple local law enforcement agencies in coming to aid their fellow officers. We are pleased with the outcome which brings justice and safety to our community.”
