Man in Monterey County is Busted for Multiple Car Jackings, Robbery and Other Charges on September 18

 

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a hit and run suspect who fled the scene of an accident and carjacked another vehicle from a residence in an unincorporated area of Gonzales on at 2:24 pm on Monday, September 18. Several callers from the community reported that a suspicious vehicle was driving erratically as it traveled north towards Salinas and as it traveled through the City of Salinas towards north Monterey County. The red sedan that had been carjacked was involved in another collision near the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 156 at 3:24 pm. The suspect fled from the scene of the accident and shot a loaded firearm at a moving vehicle. 

The suspect then fled to a nearby Park'n'Ride and attempted to carjack another vehicle, however he was unable to get the vehicle started. He then fled from the Park'n'Ride and forcibly entered a nearby residence on Meridian Spur Road where he brandished a firearm at the homeowner and demanded the keys to their van. The suspect then fled from the residence in the van. MCSO detectives took the lead in the investigation and worked collaboratively with the CHP, the Gonzales PD and the San Benito County Sheriff's Office. 

At 7:14 pm, law enforcement received reports of a suspicious person possibly armed was in the area of Aromas who matched the description of the suspect from all of the incidents. Through a quick collaboration with the CHP and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office the suspect identified as  35-year-old Matangi Tele Kalafi of Pittsburg, California found and was taken into custody without further incident charged with Car Jacking, Robbery and Shooting at an Inhabited Vehicle.  

If you may be able to provide additional information regarding this incident, contact Sergeant D. Gonzales or Detective Wilson at 831-755-3718 with the Monterey County Sheriff's Investigations division.