Salinas Man Pleads No Contest to Carjacking, Assault With a Deadly Weapon, DUI Causing Great Bodily Injury and Evading Police

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on January 4 that 28-year-old Adrian Gonzalez of Salinas, pled no contest on January 4 to charges of Carjacking, Assault With a Deadly Weapon, DUI Causing Great Bodily Injury and Evading Police.

On October 11, 2022, just after 1:30 p.m., Gonzalez called for a taxi to pick him up near the Home

Depot on North Davis Road in Salinas. Shortly after picking Gonzalez up the taxi driver noticed

that Gonzalez was acting strangely and making nonsensical comments. The taxi driver quickly

became afraid and asked Gonzalez to get out of the vehicle. Gonzalez initially complied and got

out but then pulled the female driver out of the taxi, punched her in the face, and threw her to the

ground. Gonzalez took the keys and drove off in the taxi. The victim immediately called police and

reported the incident.

Gonzalez was spotted by Salinas Police almost 2 hours later – still driving the stolen taxi –

entering Highway 101 southbound at Boronda Road. After entering the highway Gonzalez quickly

accelerated to speeds exceeding 100mph. Salinas Police followed Gonzalez southbound on

Highway 101 until California Highway Patrol Officers were able to take over the pursuit. As they

followed Gonzalez officers observed him repeatedly strike other vehicles on the roadway in what

appeared to be attempts to cause accidents. Due to the dangerous nature of the driving the pursuit

was called off as Gonzalez passed through Chualar. CHP officers continued to watch Gonzalez

from a distance and observed him exit Highway 101 north of Soledad. After he exited the highway

Gonzalez turned around and re-entered the wrong side of Highway 101, heading northbound in the

southbound lanes. Police observed Gonzalez drive against traffic for several miles before colliding

head-on with a Ford Focus, causing serious injuries to its two occupants. Gonzalez was arrested at

the scene and found to be under the combined influence of Methamphetamine, Morphine and

Marijuana.

Based on his plea Gonzalez will receive a stipulated sentence of 11 years and 8 months in state

prison.

The case was investigated by the Salinas Police Department and California Highway Patrol and

prosecuted by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office specialized DUI Vertical Prosecution

Unit. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety

through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Comments

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.

KRKC COUNTRY

Search This Blog