Press Releases

Release Date/Time: 1/22/2021 9:55 AM
Incident:Robbery, Hit and Run Arrest as a Result of Instagram Transaction
Date: Thursday, 1/21/2021
Time: 11:00 AM
Location:600 Block of Arcadia Way

REMINDER: Salinas PD recently established a Safe Sale and Safety Zone in the visitors parking lot in front of the Police Service of Salinas Headquarters at 312 E. Alisal St. The purpose of implementing this resource is to enhance the safety of residents who are meeting each other in person to complete internet sale transactions such as with popular websites like Instagram, Craigslist, eBay to name a few.

While most of these types of transactions are completed in a safe and legitimate manner. There have been several instances, like the one mentioned below, we have investigated in the past that have turned criminal and/or violent.

The robbery mentioned here is a perfect example as to why you should take advantage of the Safe Sale and Safety Zone to conduct transactions like this. This incident could have gone very bad. Avoid situations like this by using the Safe Zone, tell friends and family of this option when making transactions or exchanges.

With our surveillance cameras providing 24 hr. video surveillance, people will have an option to complete their transaction in a safe location in front of the Police Service of Salinas Headquarters 312 E. Alisal St. We encourage residents to use it as often as necessary.

Robbery, Hit and Run Arrest as a Result of Instagram Transaction

On 1-21-21 at 11:00 am, in the 600 block of Arcadia Way, a 19 year old victim agreed to sell two pairs of Nike Jordan shoes on Instagram. They decided to meet in the area of the school in the 600 block of Arcadia Way.

A price was agreed upon (several hundred dollars) and they met at the agreed location. As they were both standing outside their vehicles, the victim handed over the two pairs of Jordan's to the suspect who said he was going to get the money. Suspect walked towards his car and placed the shoes in his car.

Suddenly, the suspect got behind the wheel and put his car in drive and started to drive forward. The victim attempted to retrieve his property by reaching into the suspect vehicle. The suspect tried to get away driving forward and striking two parked vehicles then reversed striking two more vehicles. In the process the victim was able to retrieve his shoes from the within vehicle but was struck by the suspect vehicle as it moved back and forth. Victim suffered minor injury.

The suspect fled the scene with the victim and several friends entering their vehicle and followed the suspect. They located the suspect in the 1800 block of Pescadero Dr. and detained him for officers who arrived shortly after.

The suspect was identified as Leonardo Sotelo (20), he did not have any money with him to pay for the shoes intending to steal the shoes from the beginning. Sotelo was transported to county jail facing robbery, hit and run charges.

Release Authorized by:Miguel Cabrera
Telephone:831 758-7289

Release Date/Time: 1/14/2021 10:20 AM
Incident:Shelter In Place Still in Effect - Refugio en Casa Sigue en Vigor( English and Spanish)
Date: Thursday, 1/14/2021
Time: 10:20 AM
Location:City of Salinas

The Shelter in Place order has been in effect for approximately ten months and it requires everyone to stay home except for essential needs. The intent of the order is to ensure that we all follow the recommended guidelines to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in our community.

Over the past several weeks Salinas PD has been responding to calls dealing with 'Non-Essential” businesses being open and many calls with large gatherings/parties in homes, city parks and people and/or businesses not adhering to the Shelter in Place Order.  

It has been Salinas Police Department's intent to educate and inform people of the Shelter in Place Order by giving them warnings, but there are times when warnings do not work, and we have had to take enforcement action.  Violation of the Order is a misdemeanor and is covered under the California Health and Safety Code 120295. A violation can result in a fine or jail time.

During the past several weeks including the holidays, we have seen a surge in Covid-19 cases that place Salinas as the city with the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the county. This increase in numbers is partly due to the large private gatherings and disregard for the Shelter in Place Order restrictions by some. We have learned that practicing social distancing and restricting people from gathering in groups is one of the best ways to fight the virus and save lives.

Although it is not our primary focus to cite or arrest people for violating the order, Salinas Police will increase our enforcement efforts of the Shelter in Place order while it is in effect which could result in issuing a citation or making an arrest when appropriate. 

Our goal is to stop the spread of COVID-19 and begin the road to normalcy. With the vaccine being administered as we speak, we hope we are headed in that direction.

Please do not let your guard down. Avoid large gatherings, continue to practice social distancing, wear your mask and wash your hands often.

Let's all be part of the solution and save lives.

Refugio en Casa Sigue en Vigor

La orden de Refugio en Casa ha estado en vigor durante aproximadamente diez meses y requiere que todos se queden en casa, excepto para las necesidades esenciales. La intención de la orden es asegurar que todos sigamos las pautas recomendadas para reducir la propagación del coronavirus en nuestra comunidad.

Durante las últimas semanas Salinas PD ha estado respondiendo a llamadas que tratan con negocios "no esenciales" que están abiertos y muchas llamadas con grandes reuniones/ fiestas en hogares, parques de la ciudad y personas y/o empresas que no se adhieren a la Orden de Refugio en Lugar.

La intención del Departamento de Policía de Salinas ha sido educar e informar a la gente sobre la orden de Refugio en Casa mediante advertencias, pero hay momentos en que las advertencias no funcionan, y hemos tenido que enforzar las violaciones.  La violación de la Orden es un delito menor y está cubierta por el Código de Salud y Seguridad de California 120295. Una violación puede resultar en una multa o tiempo en la cárcel.

Durante las últimas semanas incluyendo las vacaciones, hemos visto un aumento en los casos de Covid-19 que colocan a Salinas como la ciudad con el mayor número de casos positivos de Covid-19 en el condado. Este aumento en el número se debe en parte a las grandes reuniones privadas y el desprecio por las restricciones de Shelter in Place Order por parte de algunos. Hemos aprendido que practicar el distanciamiento social y restringir a las personas de reunirse en grupos es una de las mejores maneras de combatir el virus y salvar vidas.

Aunque no es nuestro objetivo principal multar o arrestar a personas por violar la orden, la Policía de Salinas aumentará nuestros esfuerzos de aplicación de la orden de Refugio en Casa mientras que está en efecto lo que podría resultar en emitir una multa o efectuar un arresto cuando sea apropiado.

Nuestro objetivo es detener la propagación de COVID-19 y comenzar el camino hacia la normalidad. Con la vacuna que se administra en este momento, esperamos que nos dirijamos en esa dirección.

Por favor, no baje la guardia. Evite grandes reuniones, continúe practicando distanciamiento social, use su máscara y lávese las manos con frecuencia.

Seamos parte de la solución y salvemos vidas.

Servicio de Policía de Salinas

Release Authorized by:Miguel Cabrera
Telephone:758-7289

Release Date/Time: 1/13/2021 4:25 PM
Incident: Shelter in Place Order Still in Effect
Date: Wednesday, 1/13/2021
Time: 4:25 PM
Location: City of Salinas

Release Authorized by: Assistance Chief Filice
Telephone: 831-758-7321

The Shelter in Place order has been in effect for approximately ten months and it requires everyone to stay home except for essential needs. The intent of the order is to ensure that we all follow the recommended guidelines to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in our community.

Over the past several weeks Salinas PD has been responding to calls dealing with 'Non-Essential” businesses being open and many calls with large gatherings/parties in homes, city parks and people and/or businesses not adhering to the Shelter in Place Order.  

It has been Salinas Police Department's intent to educate and inform people of the Shelter in Place Order by giving them warnings, but there are times when warnings do not work, and we have had to take enforcement action.  Violation of the Order is a misdemeanor and is covered under the California Health and Safety Code 120295. A violation can result in a fine or jail time.

During the past several weeks including the holidays, we have seen a surge in Covid-19 cases that place Salinas as the city with the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the county. This increase in numbers is partly due to the large private gatherings and disregard for the Shelter in Place Order restrictions by some. We have learned that practicing social distancing and restricting people from gathering in groups is one of the best ways to fight the virus and save lives.

Although it is not our primary focus to cite or arrest people for violating the order, Salinas Police will increase our enforcement efforts of the Shelter in Place order while it is in effect which could result in issuing a citation or making an arrest when appropriate. 

Our goal is to stop the spread of COVID-19 and begin the road to normalcy. With the vaccine being administered as we speak, we hope we are headed in that direction.

Please do not let your guard down. Avoid large gatherings, continue to practice social distancing, wear your mask and wash your hands often.

Let's all be part of the solution and save lives.

Release Date/Time: 12/31/2020 11:50 AM
Incident: Attempted Murder Arrests
Date: Thursday, 12/31/2020
Time: 11:50 AM
Location: Arrest location: Spence Road/ Tulane Street

On 08/23/20, at 7:30 PM officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation and calls of shots fired in the area of Fremont St. and Carr Avenue. Several bullet casings were located at the scene but no victim. Witnesses described a newer model white Lexus stopping near the intersection of Fremont and Carr Ave and a male shooting at an unknown victim.

Approximately 30 minutes after the initial shooting call, a 20-year-old man arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim survived the wound.

Detectives located grainy video near the shooting scene that showed both the suspect and victim vehicle. Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) examined the victim's vehicle and recovered blood swabs and other trace evidence. 

In the following months detectives, working closely with Patrol officers and VSTF, conducted an extensive investigation including forensic analysis, uniform enforcement efforts, and undercover operations resulting in the identification of two suspects in the August shooting: Noah Serrano (20), and Leonardo Luna (19). Additionally, during the investigation, detectives developed evidence implicating Serrano and Luna in four additional shooting/attempted murders:

• 10/10/20 – Shooting – Fremont Street/ Carr Ave.

Approximately 4 – 6 rounds fired at an unknown victim.

• 10/18/20 – 5:05 PM – Mae Ave/ Towt St.
  Approximately 9 rounds fired at unknown victim.
   
• 10/18/20 – Shooting – Rider Ave/ Del Monte Ave.
  Approximately 9 rounds fired at victim.
   
• 11/11/20 – Attempted Murder – 1200 block of Bellehaven St.
  Approximately 11 rounds fired. Two adult male victims were shot and survived their injuries.

The investigation led to a residence on Spence Road, south of Salinas, and a home on the 500 block of Tulane Street.

Yesterday morning, 12/30/20, detectives conducted surveillance at the Spence Road and Tulane Street locations. Suspect Noah Serrano was arrested without incident away from the Tulane Street residence.  Shortly thereafter, Leonardo Luna was arrested on a traffic stop by VSTF as he left the Spence Road address. He was in the white Lexus.  Officers searched Luna's vehicle and he was found in possession of a .25 caliber semi-auto handgun. Detectives and VSTF served a follow-up warrant on the Spence Road residence and located various ammunition and gang indicia. 

At 3:00 PM, Salinas PD SWAT served a search warrant on the Tulane Street address with the assistance of a CHP K9 officer and CHP helicopter. Detectives located a Glock 9mm semi-auto, a loaded AK47 magazine, and .40 caliber ammunition in the home.

Detectives have evidence Serrano and Luna were hunting for victims they believed were rival gang members.

Serrano and Luna were booked for multiple counts of Attempted Murder, Gang Conspiracy, Gang Enhancement and gun possession.  This investigation is ongoing, and detectives would like to hear from anyone who may have information. If you have information please call Detective Robert Miller at: (831) 758-7954, or email him at: [email protected]. Or call the Salinas Police Department at (831) 758-7321. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Tip Line at (831) 775-4222.

Release Authorized by: Cmdr. John C. Murray
Telephone: (831) 758-7350