Alleged neighbor spat in Santa Cruz County leads to attempted murder charges

The Pleasure Point man charged with attempting to murder his neighbor during a dispute remained held without bail after a hearing Wednesday morning.

SANTA CRUZ — The Pleasure Point man charged with attempting to murder his neighbor during a dispute remained held without bail after a hearing Wednesday morning.

A defense attorney for Cody Arnold, 31, withdrew his request for Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati to set bail after reviewing a pretrial public safety assessment report ordered in the case, he said.

Arnold is charged with criminal threats, vandalism and shooting his neighbor in the chest April 7 on the 2800 block of Lakeview Drive.

Leading up to Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Emily Wang also opposed having bail set in the case. According to Wang’s filing, Arnold’s neighbor reportedly yelled at Arnold to slow down as he drove quickly through the neighborhood on the evening of April 7. Arnold reportedly had a reputation for playing loud music and driving fast through the area, she wrote.

Separately that night, the neighbor called Arnold’s father to complain about Arnold’s driving, as his father was the property’s landlord, according to the filing. Then, while out to dinner, the neighbor received a call back from his landlord, during which the neighbor allegedly could hear Arnold yelling in the background, making threats and calling him names.

Returning home from dinner, the neighbor called 911 around 8 p.m. to report that someone apparently had kicked in the front door of his studio apartment, according to court filings in the case. While the neighbor waited for police arrival, Arnold allegedly approached from his nearby unit to confront the neighbor. Arnold then allegedly punched the neighbor in the face and the neighbor allegedly hit Arnold back, according to Wang’s filing. Arnold later allegedly threatened to kill the neighbor and twice pulled a knife threateningly while the neighbor stayed silent and refused to engage in a fight, according to the filing.

Arnold then allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot the neighbor in the chest, Wang wrote. After reaching under his shirt and finding blood on his hand, the neighbor ran away, hid and called 911 a second time, she wrote.

Wang’s filing argued that bail should be denied to Arnold due to his alleged dangerousness and threat to public safety and his threat of flight, due to the seriousness of his alleged crimes. If found guilty, Arnold faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Arnold is next scheduled to appear for a court hearing July 14.