Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies Arrest Wanted Felon from Chualar Who Pointed Firearm Towards Them in Castroville on March 19

 

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a subject that brandished a firearm in a Castroville bar.

He was arrested after resisting arrest which resulted in minor injuries to two deputies. The loaded firearm was

recovered.

On Thursday night, March 19, 2026 at about 7:45 PM, deputies were dispatched to the 10700 block of Merritt Street in

Castroville for a report of a person that had just brandished a firearm inside the establishment. The subject was

reported to possibly be intoxicated.

Deputies arrived on scene and saw a male matching the description provided enter the establishment. The

reporting party met with deputies and told them the subject had entered the restroom. Deputies entered the

establishment. As a deputy pushed open the door to the restroom, he saw the subject holding a gun pointed

towards deputies. The door quickly closed on its own, forcing deputies to retreat from the door for safety.

Deputies gave the subject commands to come out and he exited the restroom. Less lethal tools were utilized in

an attempt to effect an arrest, but the subject fled through an open door and was immediately caught. He

continued to resist arrest resulting in minor injuries to two deputies.

A non-serialized 9mm handgun was located in the restroom. It contained one chambered round and additional

rounds in the magazine.

40-year-old Martin Vasquez Valle of Chualar was booked into the Monterey County Jail for charges including:

PC 29800(a)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm; PC 25850(a) – Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public;

PC 25400(a)(c) – Carrying a Concealed Firearm; PC 417(a)(2) – Brandishing a Firearm; PC 148.9 – False

Identification to Peace Officer; PC 148(a)(1) – Resisting / Obstructing an Officer. He was also found to have an

outstanding felony, no bail warrant.