Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto Releases Statement Regarding Arrest of MCSO Deputy After District Attorney’s Office Announces They Are Not Filing Charges

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto released a statement on November 25 after the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would not be filing charges against a Monterey County Sheriff Deputy who was arrested for concealing a handmade weapon and committing criminal conspiracy while working inside the jail facility.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said, “We believe a crime did in fact occur, however, it is up to the

District Attorney to make a decision on whether or not to file charges. This decision does not change the

circumstances of what occurred and what was investigated in this case.”

Deputy Gaspar Estevez was arrested on November 5, 2024, after the Monterey County Sheriff's Office

received a tip that he had concealed a sharp-edged handmade weapon - commonly known as a shank - that

was provided to him by an incarcerated person. Through the course of the investigation, Monterey County

Sheriff’s Detectives developed probable cause to believe that a crime occurred, and that the deputy and the

incarcerated person were both involved in the crime. Detectives were able to recover the weapon as part of

their investigation.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto added, “Deputy Estevez remains on paid administrative leave while an

internal investigation is completed in evaluating whether any departmental policies, procedures or the law

were violated during the course of his employment as a Sheriff Deputy.”

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Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

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...

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