Monterey County District Attorney Investigators Seize and Destroy 1,400 Pounds of Unlawful Processed Cannabis in Rural Salinas

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Thursday, June 29 that the District Attorney’s Office’s Bureau of Investigations, in cooperation with the California Department of Cannabis Control and local law enforcement, discovered an unlawful cannabis operation in rural Salinas. The operation was licensed and permitted; however, it was not reporting any cultivation activity to the state and county regulators. During a lawful inspection of the property, law enforcement learned that the operation was in fact cultivating, harvesting, and processing cannabis. The business was not reporting any of the cannabis activities in the California Cannabis Track and Trace system (CCTT), as required by law. In total, law enforcement found and destroyed over 1,400 pounds of unlawful cannabis. The investigation is ongoing. All cannabis activity in California is highly regulated. The CCTT system is designed to track and trace cannabis throughout all stages of cultivation, processing, and distribution to customers. It is designed to keep untested, untaxed, and unregulated cannabis from entering the legal market.

The licensed cannabis industry in Monterey County is currently experiencing economic hardship

caused in part by a substantial decrease in the market value of processed cannabis. One contributing

factor to this decrease is the supply of cannabis products that the illegal industry brings to the

market. Unlike legal cannabis, these illicit products are not tested for consumer safety, and they are

not taxed for public revenues. Additionally, illegal pesticides often used at unlawful cultivations are

extremely destructive to the environment.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring fair competition in the

licensed cannabis industry. Additionally, it is committed to protecting consumers and the

environment in Monterey County. The Monterey County Cannabis Enforcement Unit will continue

enforcement operations throughout the remainder of the year.

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Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

King City CHP is searching for person of interest who fled the scene of a fatal crash in Greenfield

On Monday, September 16 at approximately 3:50 pm, a fatal traffic collision occurred on Metz Road south of Elm Avenue in Greenfield. The driver who caused the collision fled on foot and is currently outstanding. The California Highway Patrol King City Area is currently seeking the whereabouts of 31-year-old Agustin Santana-Moncada of King City who has been identified as a person of interest in the case. The King City Area is requesting assistance from the public in locating Santana-Moncada. Anyone with information is asked to contact the King City Area office at (831) 385-3216.

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